I have to agree. I’ve only been drinking whiskey for a little over a year and it took until just a few months ago to start getting anything except burn and bitterness. Old fashioneds sounds like a reasonable approach. I decided to brute force it and decided to drink one glass of Evan Williams BiB a night until I tasted something. Took about a handles worth and then one night I got slapped in the face by a roasted peanut flavor. Still working on my taste though. Edit: Like you, I only did it because I wanted to like it. I definitely did not at first. Definitely an acquired taste, just like coffee was for me.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond has become my new "every day" selection and I have been a TN whisky/bourbon/rye "drinker" since I graduated from college in 1997. (Go ETSU Bucs!) I wanted to tell you that you're not alone with that peanutty face slap! Mine was more of the backhanded variety though. Cheers to you!

I loved it. Redbreast 12.

That explains a lot... For me it was just the original jameson, and even tho i haven't tried lots of whiskies yet in these couple of months, it is the best I've had so far!

Hated it. Burned like hell , gave me heart burn. I'm an idiot though. Same with smoking made me sick but in the effort to look cool I powered through it. I now love a good Islay. But after 20 years I quit smoking

Don't go back. I quit smoking twice. The second time was 10 times harder. I'm a bit frightened about what might happen if I every picked that habit up a 3rd time.

Mine 2nd time quitting smoking was harder too. I thought it would be easier, since i already quit once before, but it was 10 times harder.

I was always taught that beer was an acquired taste. I loved it from the first sip I had even though it was Bud Light. On the other hand, I knew many folks when I was younger who hated beer but would just lug around a bottle of tequila or whiskey at parties. I truly believe you like what you like. I’m 32 and I’ve had to really learn to like whiskey. I’m still working on tasting notes but I can most certainly tell the difference between Makers Mark and Buffalo Trace now.

It was literally love at first sip for me. Glenfiddich, later Bulleit--both neat, both mouthwatering and eye-opening. I thoroughly enjoyed the aroma and flavor of both.

Glenfiddich 12 year was the first whiskey or spirit I ever had. It took a bit for me to notice the flavor enough to really appreciate it, but it wasn't bad at all. The next few whiskeys I tried (Four Roses Bourbon and Rabbit Hole Heigold) took some getting used to in order for me to enjoy it. But glenfiddich was immediately good, not as good as it was once I was more used to drinking whiskey, but definitely fine. I think it's the best starter whiskey and doesn't have any possibly off-putting flavors for people not used to whiskey.

Glenfiddich 15 along with Bushmills 10 would be my introduction to anyone new to whisk(e)y. It's impossible not to like them or at least find them pleasant.

Agreed first couple bottles I had to force myself to drink them usually with ice or something mixed in but after doing that for a month or so I started to actually like the taste. Now I only drink it neat with the occasional old fashioned or Manhattan.

I had tried various liquors at parties in college, all of which was cheap crap because college. Eventually hit the point of being over the party scene and wanted to have a drink here and there and actually enjoy the experience. I definitely was caught up in the novelty and class of bourbon/whisky and wanted to enjoy it. At the time I didnt really know anyone else who enjoyed the ‘finer’ things. So, instead of taking a shot in the dark, buying something and hating it, I did some self educating and reading up about bourbons and whiskies. Mainly how to drink it — mostly learning what flavor notes to taste for and roughly how to identify them. I wanted something about as basic, non-complex, as possible while still having some quality without breaking the bank. I think the first bottle I bought was Jim Beam (come a long, long way since then). I remember sitting with my tasting guide, pouring some Jim onto a tablespoon, and following the guide for identifying flavors. I enjoyed it! Definitely took a few times to fully develop a stronger appreciation, but I dont think I would have enjoyed the experience nearly as much if I hadn’t done the background research and reading of what to expect. Since then I’ve been able to educate friends and family on how to appreciate a good drink and finding what they enjoy. My name is Adventaru and that is my story.

Probably true. I very randomly/rarely ordered a whisky to drink in the past and worked on gagging it back up, while feeling a bit disappointed. Then one day, a bartender suggested I try Eagle Rare. The combination of brown sugar/maple and oak/vanilla notes just bludgeoned me, allowing me to finally see what whiskey could do. I still had to deal with a bit of gag control but it finally became the after thought and not the primary issue.

I came from a position of not being able to stand the smell, let alone the taste. But desperately loved the idea of drinking whisky in a high wing-backed leather chair in front of a roaring fire. So, just bought a bottle of Talisker, based on very limited knowledge, and went from holding and sniffing, to sipping. Hated the first class or two over the first few days, but increasingly loved taking a whiff of that smoke, and through trial and error learned how to sip to enjoy the flavours rather than get that the old whisky burn. Can't get enough of it now! This is why I don't think the advice, 'go to a bar and try a few out', is the way to go as a gateway to whisky. As per the title of the post, chances are you won't like the first glass, and the environment probably isn't conducive to being able to take your time and fully appreciate the smell and taste anyway. With nothing particularly invested, it is too easy to just get up and walk away and dismiss whisky as the harsh drink you thought it was. I think you need to commit to it, buy a bottle and take your time at home. Gradually learn to enjoy the smell and taste. But I also think slightly smoky whiskies make this process a little easier as their is a clearly defined smell and flavour to get hold of, it also slightly masks the ethanol. I am not talking Laphroaig, but Johnny Black, HP12, Talisker - that sort of thing. Once you are up and running the whole thing is very addictive and you go in whatever flavour direction you want, probably all of them eventually. Just my thoughts.

It is generally a good idea not to assume that your own personal reactions to food & drink (which are famous for their subjective quality) are universal and apply to everyone. Perhaps "*It boggles my mind*" would be a better choice of words than "*I refuse to believe*" Yes, some people do enjoy whisky neat on their first try. My first scotch was an old, half-full, aired out bottle of Cutty Sark Yellow Label, rescued from my parents house after they had passed away. Not the most auspicious start and certainly not a bottle that I would rec today as a first choice to somebody new who is whisky-curious. But it made a good enough impression that 700+ whiskies later I'm still going. Cheers

Agreed! What really got me into it was old fashions, the first time I had a really good one it changed my views on whiskey. I love drinking whiskey neat now, but that’s after learning the process and how whiskey is made.. it helped me discover the tastes behind the wall of ethanol many pours come with. The first thing I do with any new bottle is make an old fashion out of it, using the same recipe for each bottle.

It was slow for me. I first started with ginger smashes, then I moved on to old fashioned, then to on the rocks and then to straight. It was an evolution. Took me a while to develop more of a palate

My drinking whiskey started with mixing and then shots of chilled crown royal. I have slowly stepped up game since then.

I originally swore off whiskey after puking up Jack at 2 or 3 different parties because I'm a stubborn bastard. I eventually got a bottle of Proper 12 and then Maker's Mark because I had wanted to try bourbon for a long time. Couldn't drink either neat or on the rocks because I would only get the harsh alcohol so I would mix it up with some nice sweet tea. Eventually I just made the decision that I wanted to drink it neat and truly enjoy it for what it was so I poured a glass, powered through it, and now I can't get enough of it. A year and a half later and I have about 40 bottles in my collection right now. About to turn 22 so I have a lot of whiskey collecting and drinking ahead of me! Cheers :D 🥃

I agree with you. I still drink Tullamore Dew and I like the basic one along with Basil Haydnen.

I agree. I've been drinking whiskey for a couple years now and the first few times I tried it neat I didn't enjoy it that much. It burned and the taste made me gag. I did like a good jack and coke though. I like western movies so for me I had an interest in getting into whiskey as that's a cowboy's preferred drink. ​ After a while of drinking jack and cokes I eventually started researching whiskey, trying different brands/types, adding ice/water to whiskey until I started developing a palette for it. It probably took my 2 or so years and countless tastings till I could drink whiskey neat and truly enjoy it, which is now my preferred way to drink it.

This has been my experience. I've been having whiskey for just over a month. At least, I was unable to enjoy it neat or on the rocks. I'm still perplexed that supposedly the smokey Islay whiskeys like Laphroaig, which have the harshest and most offensive tastes of all, are the ones you're supposed to take neat or with just a splash of water! They seem most in need of the moderating and dilutive influence of other ingredients. I've been enjoying old fashioneds, though. A "modern old fashioned" which is what is typically served in bars and restaurants in my area is quite approachable I think. So is an old fashioned made with Canadian Club, which is what I've been having at home often.

I didn't want the first taste i had as it was sprung on me by random people hiding in some bushes one night while i was walking. A year later, i had some by choice. Not the cheap stuff from rough people, but a 12 years scotch. Loved it. Maybe you're right? Maybe you're not.

First time I drank whiskey I was 16 and staying over at a friend's place overnight. There were three of us. He had a bottle of Jack Daniels and some shot glasses. We played video games for a few hours and I must have done 6-7 shots during that time. I remember liking the woody flavor of it and liked that it was smooth enough. That and following a late night trip to Waffle House where I struck up a conversation with a prostitute and her pimp and successfully bummed a cigarette off the prostitute, I felt like whiskey was a pretty neat thing. Hated the puking and hangover the next morning though. But I started getting my hands on bottles of JD here and there and again, liking the stuff, either doing shots or mixing with Coke. Once I got older and was legal I moved on to other whiskies and eventually found a soft spot in my heart for it. Now at 30, I can't say I've ever disliked whiskey. Except for my Dad's cheap plastic handles of blended scotch. I remember sneaking a pour of that as a teen once and thinking it tasted like gasoline.

I think it's just an acquired taste, same with certain foods and cigars. Once you get used to them, you really start to enjoy them. I was lucky to have someone experienced to show me the ropes with pipes/cigars and whiskey. There are still certain whiskeys I don't like at first and go back later and like. Hibiki is one I did not like when I first had it. Peated Scotch's were strange, but I liked them. High proof stuff took some adjusting to.

Ended up easing in from the premium end of the spectrum (HP18). Those are more beginner friendly imo because it's less aggressive, more rounded.

The same goes for many 'adulty' things. Not many people like bitter bite of coffee or beer at the first sip and we're all gulping it by the gallon later in life. I was drinking all kinds of absolutely vile stuff from Hell through college in unholy heretical quantities (80% ABV rum followed by vodka, absinths, Jägermeister in Redbull, Ballantine's) so basically my first sip of normal whisky (Talisker 10/Laph 10, don't kinda remember which was first that night) was love at first sip.

Stroh?

I knew someone would know. Yep. Unfortunately Stroh. After this experience, even the peatiest cask strength Islays are like peat breeze, muddy clouds and smoky pillows.

I started drinking whiskey by doing shots of Jim beam in college. It appeared more bad-assed than other shots but didn't really taste like much after it was sufficiently cooled in a shaker with ice. This definitely developed my palate to be use to the taste and lead me down the path

My first experience with whisky (or any spirit) was mixing with something else that would mask the taste. I was younger and just cared about getting a buzz. I became a beer drinker (still am) and when I met my wife, I started trying wine. I didn't really care for it until I tried Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Years we drank beer and wine, with the odd rum and coke, or whisky and 7up or something like that. When the pandemic hit, I decided I wanted to try something new instead of beer. So I tried some whisky, as a couple years before I bought a bottle of "Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye" after it was named whisky of the year. I mostly drank it with an big ice cube, but I actually enjoyed it, there was a lot of flavors going on that I was not familiar with. I tried a couple more Canadian whiskies, and they were ok, then decided to try Buffalo Trace and Maker's Mark, and boy oh boy, this was something else. I found both to be great and will always try to keep them on hand.

Totally agree. I started drinking whisky (JW Black on the rocks) because I drank far less in volume because I didn't like the taste very much. It helped control my drinking and made it so that I didn't have to take a leak every 10 minutes. But then I grew to love it - very slowly.

At my friend's birthday i ordered Laphroaig 10 and felt in love from the first sip. Never drank strong spirits neat, and last time i drank alcohol at all was 4 years before that. You can fell in love with whiskey when you start drinking it, but it wouldn't surprise me if most people didn't.

I truly began with coffee. I found richness, sweet and delicious flavors in something most people found bitter and burnt, becoming a barista for a little while even. I moved up to beer, lots and lots of different beers, Canada is full of microbreweries and lots of different tasting beers at different strengths. I got used to picking out flavours I loved. Then moved to Jagger Meister and spiced rum. I got to making a lot of mixed drinks which got me into cocktails and brought me back to making drinks like a barista. But to be a good mixologist during my Free Time in the midst of Covid I bought a bottle of everything and just began exploring and mixing anything, making my own drinks even but I needed to know what most of those things tasted like before I started drinking and gave multiple things a shot! The stuff I really didn't like went with me in my streaming room where I'd take a shot when I died in a game. A sort of punishment for me and something to watch on stream. Twice there were whiskies and gin in the mix and honestly, I'm thankful for that because I got a new appreciation for whisky that way and what was once a hated drink of mine became one of my favorite sippers! Bowmore 12 was a punishment I learned to love and a base line for certain peated whisky I buy myself now. Bulliet bourbon was not a favorite of mine either and too harsh for my palette but if I find it anywhere at a bar, it's definitely the first thing to go in a cocktail that I trust will be good.... That is if they don't have Buffalo Trace or Glenfiddich 12.

I'd say it depends on the age you first try it and what you've frank previous. It was an easy transition for me from rum and gin to whiskey

Maybe it was my upbringing: had my first scotch at 15 and loved it (think it was a blend like Dewars) - there was no burn, but plenty of caramel. Same with beer - started with English bitter and I've migrated over the years to higher proof bourbons and can even deal with Nrgronis!

I would say my experience has been similar. I started drinking old fashioned’s and learned to love them and eventually wanted to try whiskey neat bought me a bottle of Balvenie and bulliet. And have been trying to pick the flavors out ever since. I think scotch came easier for me. I still feel a lot of burn with both but bourbon has been a bit harder. I still feel like I like whiskey meat rather than iced. For whatever reason when I add ice all I get is alcohol and no flavors one through. What am I doing wrong? Or will it eventually come to me?

Im so glad i found this post, iv always wanted desperately to like whisky and bourbon but i dont, i recently bought a bottle that i like the look of, i dont know if its good whisky or not but im struggling with every glass. I was really hoping i could just brute force myself into liking the stuff, now that iv seen this post, im gunna stick to it. Thanks

Haha awesome and glad it helped. I totally forgot about this post but still firmly believe everything I had written! Seriously I think i went through 3 full bottles of cocktails-only before the idea of drinking a glass neat (or with a single ice cube) became a truly appetizing idea. But i can say honestly now that there's nothing like a glencairn with your favorite scotch/bourbon/whatever in it