There's a guy on here who tried to tell us that he had a bunch of bottles of some valuable whiskey that was aging in the bottle (which doesn't happen with whiskey) ... we looked it up and it was like $30.
It was one of the fake nick guys, and I don't remember his nick ... I have his posts filtered out, so I'd have to undo all of that to go look. He actually may have already posted here .. but be sure to laugh at him when he does.
As far as getting into whiskeys .. make sure you understand where your palate is and how much difference a "better" bottle of whiskey is going to make on your tongue. Unlike vodka, a "better" whiskey doesn't have much effect on hangovers, etc .. so really, you should only buy what you can taste.
Bourbons are an approachable start, so you can see what the low-end of the whiskey chain is like. Think Jack Daniels (they make a honey variety if it's too strong for you). Bourbon is very harsh, but Jack Daniels is a blend, so all bottles will taste very similar to each other. Try mixing it with a bit of water, or ice. I wouldn't recommend making a mixed drink just yet, as you're trying to develop an appreciation for the whiskey itself ... that said, Jack mixes nicely with Diet Dr. Pepper (the diet is sweeter, and goes better with the bourbon).
From there, you might consider moving to a Canadian whiskey like Crown Royal. This is a much smoother experience that Jack Daniels, and the finish isn't as likely to burn your throat and/or stomach. Here, you might be more able to drink it straight.
The next step is to go to an Irish Whiskey. I don't drink them, so I don't have any specific recommendations here. You'll see a good amount of varietals in the whiskey, whereas you are less likely to see that in American bourbon or Canadian whiskey. The microclimates of Ireland play well with the aging they do.
Finally, you'll want to check out scotch. This is what I drink. All scotch is made in Scotland, but it's still a whiskey. In the beginning, a blended scotch such as Johnny Walker Black will help introduce you to the genre. Up from there is Johnny Walker Blue, also a blend. Once you are used to scotch and appreciating the peaty taste, you will want to experiment with single-malt scotches. This is my primary drink, the single malt. Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, etc, are good low-end (under $100) bottles. This stuff, you will want to drink "neat", meaning no ice, no water added. It's all about appreciating the difference from bottle to bottle (this is what single-malt does).
Consider joining us on /r/scotch if you develop a taste. Hope that helps!