Like I said, whiskey at a bar can be expensive.  But that expense is relative.  Sure, that one shot costs a lot, but it’s way cheaper than buying an entire bottle.  Many bars offer flights.  That’s the manager’s curated choice and not a bad way to go for the beginner or experienced sipper.  It’s also a good idea to visit your whiskey bar with a plan.  Have several specific whiskies that you want to try.  Plan your trip.  Call ahead and ask when their slow times are.  That way you’ll get a better chance to have a conversation with a bartender and you might learn something.  Nearby is a list of whiskey bars in the DMV area.  I recommend all of them. 

And finally:  Ask your bartender to surprise you (with a whiskey, that is).  Several years ago I went to the Jack Rose with a specific plan.  I went early when I could have short conversations with the busy bartender (the bar staff are really great there).  I asked her to surprise me.  She brought me a shot of Amrut, a single malt from India.  After making a joke about the source water being the Ganges, I tried it.  I’ve been a fan ever since.  If you’re visiting a city, do a search on ‘whiskey bars’.  I’ve made more than a few pleasant discoveries.