What should you start off your selection with

Taste a lot of whiskies, then buy.

What Victor said: However, if you can't wait to get started, a Glenmorangie (rhymes with 'orangey) will do you no harm nor will it dent your wallet if you stick with the 10yo. (initially). Around Xmas, many outlets around here, in Qld. Australia, had gift packs which contained 2 tasting glasses with lids and, of course the Glenmorangie 10yo.

I know of nobody who doesn't like the Glenmorangie. My wife, who is an occasional Malt drinker but who has a rather good palate thinks it, hands down, 'takes the cake'! - And, she makes a point of trying all the Whiskies that come home.

Cheers and Good Luck!

I agree with Victor. Get some samples to get a first impression of what's out there and then see what you like and go from there. Maybe start off with classic entry malts covering different flavors like i.e. smoky, sherry, fruity, bourbon, rye...whatsoever... there also sample collections in lots of online stores like the classic malts of scotland series etc.

If I have to name one, I always recommend the Balvenie Double Wood as an entry malt. Mild, sweet, great value for money but not boring or simple.

Another that I'd recommend without hesitation is Cragganmore 12. Less that $50, fruity, and just plain lovely.

I agree that you should start off by tasting whiskies across the spectrum to get a feel of what's available and what your palate runs to. In my opinion, a Macallan 12 is a good way to start. Around $45 here, and a smooth entry. I also think, as has seemed to happen with many members here, that your tastes will change over time. My first impressions of the Islay whiskies was that i never wanted to taste that level of smokiness again!! Now, several years later, my tastes run almost exclusively to Islay. Just be open minded and willing to explore, and your cabinet will develop over time.

Auchentoshan 12 is great as it provides multiple distinctive flavours, is on the 'lighter' side so as to not be overwhelming and appears to be very well priced in most, if not all, areas of the world.

I think that before you pick a whisky you get a basic guide book and find a whisky bar.. try everything you can before you buy it in a bottle. I wasted a LOT of money early buying bottles when I could have boughts shots instead.

Try and try and try and try,dont let the reviews of others taking all the place,youre gonna find what you like by yourself.The world of whisky is full of flavors,hope you`ll find yours!

Let me be the voice of decent. First, I don't really go to bars. Second, most of the bars/restaurants where I live are actually pretty pricey on the slim selection of scotches that they have available (8-9 for Glenfiddich.) I personally do not feel that I can get a handle on a single pour of scotch, so by the time I buy 3-4 pours of a scotch, I could have purchased a bottle of many of the available scotches. I recommend that you purchase a bottle or two of the most recommended scotches from the community and spend some time with them in the quiet of your home. For me, I'd suggest Highland Park 12.

I definitely think Highland Park 12 and Glenmorangie Original are good bottles to buy to determine your tastes that really can't disappoint too much. If you want something a little peatier, I might go with Talisker 10 or Ardbeg 10.

When you're out, get a glass that looks interesting, but it IS more expensive in the long run. So if anything looks interesting, get a bottle!

@A'bunadhman -- I guess you now know someone that doesn't like Glenmorangie. :-)

@onewman -- You don't have to go to bars to sample whisky. There seem to be a growing number of restaurants that offer very nice selections of whisky. I can think of at least three in my area. And one even offers whisky flights where you can sample three whiskies at a reasonable price.

To answer the original question, I'd give someone one of the better blends. Something that isn't too challenging but is tasty enough that it can be drunk frequently.

As a new whiskey drinker myself i started with a Abelour 10yr. Loved it.

Its interesting that everyone mentioned scotch first. I started out on bourbons...a long time ago with Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Was poor and stuck to drinking Wild Turkey and Makers Mark for a long time. As my income changed and my wife started to enjoy them as well...we really jumped in. For bourbons these days, a light easy drink would be Basil Hayden or Buffalo Trace. Both are nice bourbons that wont dent the wallet. I think Buffalo goes for 20 dollars out here in MA...which in my opinion is insanely cheap for the quality. I cant talk too much about scotch, as I was innitiated with Lagavulin...not exactly a starter scotch...but it took!

@stevesmyth30 -- The best price I've seen for BT in my area is $27.

Mant: The NH Liquor stores have Buffalo trace on sale all the time. Their normal price is 23...they have it on sale for 20 all the time. When they do I usually grab an extra bottle, its so cheap that I just have a sinking feeling like someday people will wake up and the price on Buffalo Trace will start to skyrocket...its just Eagle Rare, I used to get that for 23-24 as well...now I think its up to 30.

As a suggestion, call around any good bottle shops, and find out if they do scotch tastings, or if they have open bottles for people to try. Read the bottles, and try a taste of the ones that sound interesting. Noting where you are, if you travel much then a LOT of duty free shops do tastings of scotches, even if it is generaly 2 or 3 at a time that they have available to sample. This way you will get to try a good range before you have to spend any money at all.

When it comes to buying, I would suggest that you start with more of the "base" or younger expressions where possible... This will allow you to build up a collection quicker and cheaper, and often these base expressions are a good starting point as to what the nature of the more expensive versions are going to be like. For example, make your first Ardbeg a 10 year old for $60, not one of the special ones for double that.

I don't know what you should start with, but I started with Lagavulin 16. There's been no looking back since. :-)

Teacher's Highland Cream - a great blended whisky that sets a good benchmark for other blends and single malts alike.

I've managed to put together a modest collection of around 70 odd whiskies over the last eight months or so and I'm extremely happy with all my selections bar a couple. I live in UAE so it's not always easy to sample before you buy so I took the help of Mr Jim Murray and his Bible and basically got my hands on anything that had a 85+ rating and was within my price range.

As a drinker I preferred the softer Speysides initially and then developed a taste for the peatier stuff from the Islays. I also like my bourbons so it makes me a pretty well rounded whisky drinker. I guess the important thing is to keep an open mind. Share with your friends because they'll discover gems that you might overlook.

@tabarakRazvi, indeed, there are many gems awaiting both 'you' and your friends!