[Glenn]

Ask questions.

Won't that show weakness? What if he replies with a more esoteric scotch question?

[GBA]

Does asking a decent question show weakness? I don't think so. Are you an expert on Scotch? Would you like to be? If you're a non-drinker or you really don't care about it, then this wouldn't be a good approach. If you'd like to know more about drinking Scotch and that's his drink, then he likely would share his opinion unless you are too much of a suck and it's obvious. If you do ask, listen more, talk less and see where it goes. You may learn quite a bit.