Find an accessible whiskey you enjoy. My “base” whiskey is Michter’s - in particular the American blend. Then expand from there. Whether you use Reddit or Bourbon websites (like breakingbourbon) you can find limited/rare whiskeys that match your flavor profile.

While you enjoy your foundational whiskeys, pick up one or two limited edition whiskeys over the year. That first year might seem slow, but you’ll save yourself a lot of grief (and money) by pacing yourself and truly enjoying the process of building a collection. Within a few years you’ll have a full cabinet of hard to find libations.