Like chocolate, beer, oatmeal, wine, coffee or rice, there are local favorites, fancier products and more expensive production methods for whiskey......I never liked ANY whiskey till I discovered the better Irish & Scotch, but since then I have learned that super quality Bourbons do exist...like wise with Rums, Gins...etc...my problem is that I almost always prefer the best!...So I never even tried learning much about wine, as I could NEVER afford to do it right!

I can barely stand cheap canned grocery store coffee, will NOT drink Budweiser beer (or almost any beer of that type) can't stomach 98% of blended Scotch, and will ignore cheap chocolate if I something good is available. I think that in my case, being a gourmet snob actually saves me money, as I sip, nibble and hoard rather than guzzle and gobble.