'Sound, captain, sound!' cried the blind man; 'what does my noble captain drink--is it brandy, rum, usquebaugh ? Is it soaked gunpowder, or blazing oil?

(A precursor of whisky was called " usquebaugh " - or "water of life" in Gaelic).

In fact, the word whisky itself is derived from an old Gaelic word 'uisge beatha' or ' usquebaugh ' which literally translates to 'water of life.' Whisky's reference to water is quite apt since whisky is usually drunk in times of joy or celebrations or during rough times when one needs the warmth of creature comforts.