Best way to learn

@Jonhelmkamp, this may not be the reply you seek, but I'd have to say there's advantages and disadvantages to both. On one hand, consider that you might be paying up to 1/3 -- and in some cases 1/2 -- the cost of an entire bottle for a single dram. Top-shelf whisky usually moves slowly at most bars, so they have to squeeze out as much profit as they can from each sale.

On the other hand, consider that you'll be saving up to 2/3 the cost of an entire bottle if you don't like the stuff. I've never regretted any whisky purchase that I've pre-sampled, so, if your budget allows for it, try some new ones, by all means.

If you're planning to have, say, four drams, then perhaps two old favorites and two newbies might be the way to go. For the new ones, you might want to go with one distillery or flavor profile you know you like, and one wild experiment.

It's a tough call, but I'd suggest trying one or two new ones. If you don't like them, well, then you've saved money and furthered your whisky education!

@WhiskyBee That's exactly my dilemma! But you know, I think you shed just enough light. It's a risk buying a bottle of something I may not enjoy. Well, because of your response, I'm heading out to a local Scotch bar. Slainte!

@Jonhelmkamp You could also get some 100ml minis or so. Good for trying if you aren't sure if you like it or not.

@Jonhelmkamp, in addition to cost, the other big disadvantage to sampling at bars and restaurants is that you may with some regularity get samples that are from very long opened bottles which have gone off and do not give you what you came for: an accurate idea of what that whisky really tastes like. Best thing you can do is to get 3 to 5 friends, each of you buy 3 to 5 different bottles, and share drams and samples with one another.

@Victor that is a great point that I hadn't considered... My only issue with your proposition is that I don't have any other whisky drinking buddies! Such is the issue. Oh well. I'll have to try and to get something organized up here.

For me a bar adds width, getting a bottle for drinking at home adds depth. It's a bit like romantic relationships; being a player or having a steady partner, except with whisky you can do both at the same time.