Glenlivet 12. I poured some over three ice cubes swirled and sipped... and almost gagged.
Can someone wiser than I provide some help? How should I start?
Okay, it's not how you should start, it's how you should finish. Replace "almost gagged" with "really enjoyed" and you have it.
I'd suggest trying it more like the way you drink your gin & tonic ... that is, with a mixer. Scotch & Soda (on ice) is great. Yeah, it's probably a "waste" of a "good single malt" yada yada yada, but it gives you a chance to acclimate yourself to the "it" of Scotch gradually, rather than diving into the (undiluted) deep end.