If it hadn't been Flodden that got him.....

.....James IV of Scotland had a great liking for Scots whisky.

When I was a callow student, I spent six summers working as a porter in a large District General Hospital.   Delivering meals to the ward, and removing bodies from the ward were principal activities (although hopefully they were not related).    

There was a fair team of porters - all male, and all ages.   They offered me all kinds of advice for living.   Most of them I couldn't possibly set down here.   Their advice on whisky was "always add water.  A fair amount to blended, and a little to single malt."    I've always followed that maxim!