Capitalization, Titles
Q. Do you capitalize Scotch when it’s used singularly as a noun, or only in a proper name situation: Let’s have a scotch. I drink Scotch whisky and Irish coffee. Thank you!
A. According to CMOS, 15th ed., 8.65,
Personal, national, or geographical names, and words derived from such names, are often lowercased when used with a nonliteral meaning. For example, “an excellent Swiss gruyère” refers to a cheese made in Switzerland, whereas “swiss cheese” is an American cheese with holes in it.
Among the examples included at 8.65 is “scotch whisky.” But in your example, you are right to capitalize “Scotch” in “Scotch whisky” because you are opposing “Scotch” to “Irish.”
