title_body: How to select upper-tier whiskies without trying them first?
upvoted_answer: Unfortunately there's no good way to guarantee you'll get something you'll like. However, there are some things you can do to help:
  
  Find reviews that you agree with of whisk(e)ys you like. Note who wrote them and how they described the spirit. Try to find other reviews by those reviewers and look for the same descriptors. Ignore words like "smooth" and pay more attention to flavor notes. 
  
  Keep your own notes about what you like and what you taste when you drink what you like. Use the vocabulary that you and the reviewers you trust use as a guide for what is likely to be in your wheelhouse. 
  
  This won't be perfect. I don't recommend spending $200 on a bottle with this. But for the midtier it's not a bad approach. 
  
  If you're serious about upper tier stuff, find a good bar that has some of these whiskeys and go try them there. Find a local whiskey society to join or look out for tasting events (they happen more often than you'd think).