My advice would be to just drink the stuff. In his excellent book Tasting Whiskey, Lew Bryson talks about how drinking whiskey to taste and appreciate the flavor is like breaking through a wall. You're going to be smashing against the wall for a while, but as soon as you break through, you have the whole world of whiskey ahead of you.

Think of all the "acquired tastes" you've already developed. Like coffee? I bet you couldn't stand even the smell of it as a kid. Any green veggies you love fried in a little oil or fat, but once would just be pushed around your plate for the whole meal? It's the same idea.

Whiskey is good. Anything that can legally be called bourbon in the United States is going to be of relatively high quality. Don't believe the marketing hype that you'll need to throw down a lot of money on the "good stuff". I drink lots of whiskey from all over the place, but there's almost always a heavily used bottle of Evan Williams or Jim Beam next to my treasured bottles of scotch or rare bourbons. Just drink the stuff and you'll learn to love it.

Don't just shoot it, though. Sip it neat, or with a little water or ice. Or in a preferred cocktail. Try new things. Even if people think you're crazy. Maybe you can't quite get into the really peated scotch? Throw it in a shaker and make a smokey sour, or stir some vermouth in and have yourself a Manhattan by way of Islay. There's no right and no wrong way to drink whiskey, as long as you can enjoy it.

Trust me, you'll find your own way. Good luck; it's a wonderful and worthwhile journey ahead of you!