One of the most daunting tasks to any whiskey newcomer is the sheer number of choices. This often leads to over-generalizations when attempting to discover personal preferences: For example, someone who decides they don’t like whiskey at all because they had a bad experience with Fireball – Cinnamon Whisky.

The first step to navigating the overwhelming selection at your local bar or liquor store is understanding the different classifications of whiskey. Knowledge of the different production methods and flavors will prepare you to understand what you love about whiskey, and what to steer clear of.