>>511779Scotsman and whisky fanatic here. If you're drinking good scotch, you should use a bowled whisky glass, not a tumbler. Pour the dram in, and add nothing but maybe one or two tablespoons of fresh water. Nose it, swirl it around the glass, and wait a couple of minutes for the whisky to interact with the water. Smell it again, and you'll notice a much richer palate of scents this time around. When drinking it, take about one third of a mouthful at a time (give or take), and move the whisky around in your mouth so that your tongue can pick up the sweet, bitter and umami flavors. Swallow once the whisky has reached the temperature of your mouth.
As for good brands of scotch to drink, I wouldn't personally recommended blended whisky, but a single malt from any of the distilleries from the Isle of Islay will always be nice. My favorite is Bruichladdich.
You probably weren't expecting such a long reply, but I love whisky.
