Brew Hops & Wine Stops

Not sure when I realized it, although I have mentioned it to many wine friends over the years, but most of the wines I keep both at home in my wine fridge as well as in my storage vault all belong to a group I call the Killer B’s. These bottles are not the bottles that cycle through my home on a regular basis—the drinkers that have a very short and predictable lifespan once they arrive here. The Killer B’s are my pride and joy, the vin de Garde bottles that I wait patiently for. We drink a lot of wines that don’t start with the letter ‘B’, but the ones I check in on from time to time almost all do!

I started collecting wines years ago, but found that mostly we just opened them when we felt like it and were usually disappointed when we opened something nice before it had reached some plateau of maturity. So I began setting some bottles aside and buying others for consumption. Coincidentally, most of what I liked back then and still today required at least some bottle ageing. I am happy if I can keep myself away from them for somewhere between 8-12 years, which may not be long enough for some, but seems to work well enough that each offers secondary aromas and flavors that are worth the wait and that justify the higher prices.

Castiglione Faletto

Bordeaux was the first wine I spent way too much money on, but back then, they really were affordable, even great growths and even in classic vintages. I believe Bordeaux accounts for about 20% of the wines I have collected.

Barolo has always been one of my other favorites. Maybe because it was easier to find affordable, aged examples when I was younger than it is today. Today, you can still find most of the top producers, but waiting the required 10 years (their words, not mine) is not for everyone. Barolo makes up about 30% of my old bottles!

Barbaresco was a natural, since I enjoy Barolo as I do. Barbaresco allows you a similar experience as Barolo, often for less money and time. Since I can, and do, drink them sooner, I never have very many of them in a holding pattern.

Brunello di Montalcino. What else is there to say! I really enjoy these gems, and have for long enough now that each year I add some new bottles, and each year I have a few bottles hit their 10^th or 12^th birthday. I have some at home now from 1996 and 1997 waiting for the right company! I guess 30% of my dusty bottles are probably Brunello. Any takers?

Then in the early 90’s I fell in love with Burgundy. The latest addition to the list of Killer B’s, Burgundy is my wine of choice more than any other today, mostly because I rarely wait 8-10 years before I enjoy them. I believe Pinot Noir, especially Premier and Grand Cru Burgundy (let’s say under $100, since I also believe that wines like Richebourg or La Tache will easily go 20 years) is at its best before the fruit fades so I typically don’t wait as long. 5-8 years on average. I have some 2002’s but only a few. So Burgundy accounts for the remaining 20% of bottles I keep, but that 20% certainly rotates thru at a much higher rate.

I do have a few big Napa Cab’s, but none of them start with the letter B.

Oh, one last comment…keep you storage vault(s) as far from home as sensible. The distance will keep you from visiting the stash too often, sort of out of sight, out of mind!

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor. Follow me on Twitter @ABCwineShayne

With the increasing interest in craft beers by consumers, suppliers are working hard to carry more and more beers and to get them at good prices.  ABC has had a great relationship with many wineries, and distilleries, bringing in great products that we have the exclusive right to sell in the state of Florida for years.  Now we are turning some of this interest into craft beers.  You may be asking what the benefit is.  Without a wholesaler taking a cut we can give you a great product at better prices, plus now we have more control of inventory, keeping your beers in stock!

The newest brewery we are bringing Direct to You is Erie Brewing.  Erie Brewing was founded in 1993 in Erie Pennsylvania as Hoppers Brewpub.  Six years later their beer was so well received they turned from a brewpub to a full-fledged Microbrewery and became Erie Brewing.  In 2012 Rob Lowther took over as owner, and is now focusing more on the quality of the beer, and the relationships they have with suppliers.  Right now Erie Brewing is in 14 states along the east coast, and their goal is to keep their beer in stock and very fresh in these states. 

Erie Brewing has five core beers in their portfolio but make others including a few seasonal beers we cannot get yet.  Their core beer is the Railbender Ale; this Scottish Style Ale, has a deep Malt flavor with a soft hop presence.  The Derailed Ale is a Cherry Cream Ale, with a very well balanced cherry to beer taste.  The other three main beers are Mad Anthony American Pale Ale, Misery Bay India Pale Ale, and the Presque Isle Pilsner.

All of Erie’s beers are named after events that happened in the history of Erie.  Railbender is made for the Iron workers who laid the tracks around Erie.  Misery Bay is named after the battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812 and the soldiers who died there.  These beers don’t just come with a story, they are very good as well, and they have won numerous awards at the Great American Beer Festival.

Stop into your local ABC and pick up these great beers at the great price of $9.  After you try them all check with your local ABC Beer Consultant and let them help you find more amazing deals!

Kevin Vercrouse, ABC Beer Consultant on East Tamiami in Naples, FL. Follow me on Twitter @abcbeerkevinv

It’s about time! Thursday night we had the pleasure of attending the New Belgium Brewing Florida Launch Party over at Florida Distributing Company and sampled a couple of the crafts that will start hitting our store shelves today. That’s right, today! Most of you will recognize the crowd favorite, Fat Tire Amber Ale, and perhaps their IPA, Ranger—but you should also be on the lookout for Sunshine Wheat, Trippel Belgian Style Ale, SHIFT Pale Ale in cans and their Lips of Faith limited release series brews.

All of these crafts, aside from SHIFT, will be coming in in 22oz bomber size bottles for the first round shipment. You can expect to find them this week in 120 of our stores across the state—but shop quickly, because we are expecting them to sell out fast! New Belgium is predicting 60% of their Florida sales to be in Fat Tire alone. Anyone who has tried this one, outside of Florida (until now), knows just how delicious this biscuity-malty beer is, so you don’t want to miss out on the first round shipment.

Kim Jordan, Founder of New Belgium, said Thursday at the Florida launch party that “’Super excited’ is the word, or the phrase, of the day here,” and it truly was!

Kim Jordan

Just why is ABC so excited about New Belgium finally arriving here in the Sunshine State? Chris Larue, ABC’s Merchandising & Inventory Planning Manager, says “People have been asking for us to get this beer for years! It’s the most sought after craft beer that (until now) hasn’t been available here. We can’t wait.” No longer will you have to cross state lines to get a taste of Colorado’s most well-known brews! Be sure to stop by your neighborhood ABC to grab a bottle (of each!) today—we promise you won’t be disappointed.

Cheers!

Meghan & Hannah

Art and cigars are two things that have always been intertwined. After all, the cigar itself is a work of art. Just consider the amount of time dedicated to growing, curing, fermenting and aging the tobacco. Of course, this is before the folks at the cigar factory ever get their hands on it. The second step in the process required the expertise of the master blender. It is the blender that determines the proper style and mix of tobacco. Once the blend is decided then it’s off to the next artisan, the roller.  It is now up to the torcedor to bring it all together, joining the binder and filler while finishing off things inside a perfectly rolled wrapper. In my opinion, there is no truer example of an artisan that that of a cigar roller. Although, a consistent, quality product is his/her intention, each leaf can provide a different adventure. Several different methods and techniques must be employed. Having witnessed this craft personally and attempted to roll my own cigars, I am even more impressed by their skill.

But the artwork doesn't end with the cigar—its packaging can be even more spectacular. Today there are huge numbers of collectors of all things cigar related. Whether it’s labels, cigar ad posters, decorative boxes, or just general "tobacciana," there is a large collectable market for these items.

Example of a modern cigar maker using retro art. This example, My Father Flor de las Antillas was not only visually appealing, but it was also named Cigar Aficionado's Top Cigar of 2012.

Dutch-born, Cuban cigar merchant Gustave Bock is credited with being the first to band his cigars. It was a way for him to make his cigars stand out and to prove authenticity. These first bands were very simple and plain, much different that most of the ones we see on the market today. Gustave simply wrapped a plain paper band in the cigars then applied his signature. Consumers could be guaranteed that they were buying his genuine Havanas only if they were adorned with a band with his name on it. Stone Lithography, and more specifically Chromolithography, ushered in the Golden Age of cigar art from 1890 through 1920. The cigar labels, boxes, and advertising posters that were created during this "golden age" are the most sought after today--and the advent of cheaper and more mass-production methods that ended this era.

So what exactly is Stone Lithography? It was a low tech method of using large stones as presses. The weight, in conjunction with some basic chemical reactions, enabled artwork to be duplicated. Chromolithography was an updated method which also used weight and chemical etching, but allowed for more detail and color to be transferred. For an image to be composed of multiple colors, it required a different stone for each color. Although the stones were heavy, they were also very fragile, thus making this an expensive process. Because the process was difficult and the stones rapidly deteriorated after use, there are not a lot of surviving pieces from this era. Some simple advertising posters that were given away free to merchants can fetch thousands on the collectables market.

Example of an A Hoen and Company lithograph

There were many great lithographers who appeared during this time. Louis Prang is often considered one of the fathers of Chromolithography, as it was he who printed the first American Christmas card. Prang, a German-born artist, reproduced many of the day’s most famous paintings, despite criticism from the artists of his time. He believed that his processes afforded all classes of people the opportunity to own fine art.

German immigrant August Hoen was also a key figure in the history of cigar art. Hoen patented a process known as lithocaustic, and his firm, A. Hoen & Company, was one of the most prominent print companies of its time. Their advertising art is prized by collectors today.

If posters, labels, and cigar bands aren't your style of collectable art, you can own other forms of tobacciana. Cigar store Indians are highly prized and can easily set you back several thousand dollars. Although our modern culture may classify these to be offensive, they were actually created to pay homage to the Native Americans. Remember it was they who introduced the visiting Europeans to the wonderful world of tobacco. If you don't have a spot for full-sized version, there are small scale reproductions that won't hit you quite as hard in the wallet.

Vintage lighters and cutters are also hot ticket items for the tobacco fan; just remember they are antiques, so using them for their original purpose may be hazardous. Treat them as ornaments and display pieces. Old fuel cells and dull cutters are just accidents waiting to happen.

As you can see, there is a lot of art surrounding that wonderful little stick of tobacco. And although the "golden age" of cigar advertising may be over, there are still many cigar makers that still adhere to the artistic roots of their forebears. There are many ornate boxes and labels on the market today, some rival the style and sophistication of the cigar art of old. It's never too late to start collecting, even if it’s just cigar boxes. And of course, the best thing about collecting cigar boxes is emptying them out one smoke at a time.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney. Follow me on Twitter, @chrisgnole

There are some rare beers out there like Pliny the Elder from Russian River, Dark Lord from Three Floyds, Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout from Cigar City, and Kentucky Breakfast Stout from Founders. And those are just the American beers; many gems do not even leave their country of origin, leaving beer zealots scrambling overseas to score a Cantillon Don Quijote or a Westvleteren 12. They are small batch, limited production brews that some people wait days in line to get their hands on. Some are even barrel aged making them ever scarcer. 

A good way to snag one or more of them is to trade with an equally rare brew. Some breweries offer elite member clubs that give the lucky card owner first dibs on those “white whales.” Cigar City just started the El Catador Club. For $126, the member is guaranteed one bottle of five barrel aged beers including a barrel aged variant of Hanahpu’s, as well as advanced notice of release events and other goodies. The Bruery offers the Reserve Society, a $295 ticket to some of their rarest treasures. Unfortunately, these exclusive guilds are illegal in Texas. 

If you have a beer bucket list, be prepared to spend a lot of time and money to complete it. Traveling to breweries--especially foreign ones--is a must, and there may be disappointment along the way. It is best to become good friends with many other beer aficionados and share the wealth when you get a good find. Being a beer consultant, I had a once in a life time opportunity fall in my lap when Cigar City was presenting at one of our meetings and let us try a few ounces of the precious Hunahpu’s well after Hunahpu Day had culminated.

Cheers!

Adam Shugan, Beer Consultant, Gainesville - Archer Road

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeeradams

Marlborough vineyards

There are hundreds of great summer wines - red, white and rosé – to try from all around the world, but right now I’d like to suggest three wines from The Better Half in Marlborough, New Zealand.

First of all there’s The Better Half Sauvignon Blanc. Summer and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a natural, and this is a perfect example. Pale lime in color and with aromas of lime, melon and guava with herbal notes, the wine is bright, crisp and clean with good balance and a persistent finish. In short – all that you could desire from a Marlborough Sauvy Blanc. Pair with seafood, chicken and salad dishes.

For red wine lovers there’s The Better Half Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is one of the best red wines for summer enjoyment – lighter, less tannic and yet still showing some complexity. This one is sourced from Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere Valleys and offers bright violet aromas with some earth and spice tones, flavors of red cherries and raspberries, smooth tannins and a silky mouthfeel. Serve with picnic meats, roast beef and fresh mushrooms.

Finally, for those of you who allow summertime to make you more adventurous and daring, there’s The Better Half Gewurztraminer. I can’t beat the winemaker’s own notes on this little beauty of a wine:  “An intensely perfumed nose with characters of white rose and lychee. Palate – Luscious rich floral characters and flavors of baked quince mingle with underlying notes of ginger and mango with a lingering hint of orange blossom.” If that doesn’t make you want to rush out and buy a bottle I don’t know what will. Pair this with Asian and Asian fusion dishes.

Where does the name ‘The Better Half’ come from? Well first of all, winemaker George Elworthy uses his extensive knowledge and experience of winemaking in New Zealand and Italy to make sure he gets his grapes from ‘the better half’ of each vineyard. But ‘The Better Half’ is also a puckish play on words, as Elworthy is also the husband of Jules Taylor, once winemaker for the well-known Kim Crawford wines and now for her own eponymous label which has been so successful in our ABC stores and elsewhere.

So don’t forget to take some chances this summer. And don’t forget to reach for ‘The Better Half’. Cheers!

Bill Stobbs, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills

Bunan Vineyard

Bandol is a coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea whose given its name to Provence’s most prestigious appellation for red and rosé wines based on the noble mourvèdre grape.

Domain Bunan is a small, three generations family-owned and operated wine estate; the 40 acres of vineyards are situated on steep, terraced slopes facing the Mediterranean.

The 2011 Bunan Bandol Rosé and the 2006 Bunan Bandol Red are an incredible bargain offered at $19.29.

The 2011 Bunan Rosé “Moulin des Costes,” a blend of mourvèdre, grenache and cinsault, exhibits a salmon-pink color with red raspberry hues and aromas and flavors of red berries and flowers, peach and pomegranate followed by delicate spice and freshness on the long finish. Pair with light appetizers, spicy dishes, seafood dishes, grilled fish and grilled white meats.

The 2006 Bunan Bandol Red “Moulin des Costes,” a blend of mainly mourvèdre with some grenache and cinsault, exhibits a saturated ruby color and aromas of red and black berries with touch of toasty oak; full-bodied with fine-grain tannins and flavors of blackcurrant, blackberries, spices and leather. Decant and serve at 70ºF. This is my favorite red to pair with gamy meats like venison; goes well with lamb and another favorite, beef and Mediterranean olives stew; try it with chocolate-based desserts as well.

Atanas Nechkov, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow him on Twitter @abcwineatanas

Beer is the nectar that brings joy and satisfaction to people all over the world. It has been around for hundreds of years. For me, beer had not always been an important staple of my diet. I did not have my first beer until the age of 22 at a British pub in Atlanta. Like some people, I was not a fan of the bitter taste of beer. Through time, and many post-work trips to the local pub, my appreciation for beer and its many styles began to blossom. Having a boss and coworker who were fans of good beer was crucial in that development. My boss hailed from England and therefore knew a thing or two about beer; my coworker was a Guinness aficionado. As such, the first beer on my journey to enlightenment was naturally the pride and joy of Ireland. I instantly fell in love with the heartiness and creaminess of that dark liquid gold.

From there, I started navigating the globe with my taste buds. I discovered Newcastle Brown, Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown and Old Engine Oil. I truly enjoyed the fuller flavors and lower bitterness that I was discovering in these darker beers. Gone was the conception that all beers were created equal. The pilsners of Germany and the Czech Republic drew me to lighter, but equally delicious beers. Pilsner Urquell and the beers of Hofbrau Haus showed me that even light beer was delightful. I loved the array of flavors and aromas that these beers displayed. So similar yet so very different were these beers. I was experiencing the fuller spectrum of wonders that malt, hops, yeast and water could produce.

These days, I enjoy beers of all styles from all corners of the globe. The transformation of my beer palate has been ongoing and will continue as long as new beers are being produced. The understanding that beer is as varied as the people of the world, has led to the discovery that there truly is something for everyone. Ciders are great for those who are introducing themselves to malted delight. Pale Ales, India Pale Ales and Belgian Wheat Ales are perfect summer refreshers. There are a number of other styles, all of which are great by themselves or complementing a great meal. We all love to fall in love with a favorite beer or beer style, but I encourage you to love them all.

Patrick Miller, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeerpatrickm

Paul Quaglini and Matt Buoncristiani.

This was the scenario last week at our Boynton Beach wine tasting when Matt Buoncristiani showed up to pour his highly rated, hand crafted wines. Not familiar with Buoncristiani Family Winery? Don't feel bad, I don't think any of the hundred plus guests at the tasting had any idea what a treat they were in for.

The Buoncristiani Family Winery was established in 1999 by four young brothers who were born and raised in Napa. The family winemaking history however can be traced back to the late 19th century when the Buoncristiani brother's great, great grandfather was making wine in the Tuscany region of Italy.Today the brothers share a passion, vision and dedication for handcrafting ultra premium wines.

But don't take my word for how good these wines are. From the very first vintage in 1999 there has been a flood of spectacular reviews, ratings and acclamations from all the major wine publications.The 1999 vintage cabernet was rated among the top ten in a Wine Spectator retrospective tasting two years ago. The 2002 was awarded 95 points by Robert Parker and described as "exuberant" and "irresistible." With the 2003 vintage, the Wine Spectator featured Buoncristiani as one of the rising stars of Napa.

I'm thrilled that we now offer five of the Buoncristiani wines. All are very limited so don't wait to put some of these gems on your wine rack.

-Triad Blanc - 50% sauvignon blanc, 22% chardonnay, 28% viognier. Looking for an alternative to that other California blend...look no further.

-Sauvignon Blanc - Complex, layered and zesty. My favorite California Sauvignon Blanc.

-Rosato - Not just a beautiful label. Crisp, fruit forward, bone dry and delicious.

-OPC - Ol' Pa's Cuvee is a proprietary blend of cabernet, syrah, malbec and merlot. Great Meritage.

-Cabernet - Gorgeous depth and purity from start to finish...don't miss this one.

Paul Quaglini, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow him on Twitter @abcwinepaulq

There was a great old country song titled Sunday morning coming down which was, of course, an anthem for those who had partaken of too much "spirit" on the previous evening.

 My Saturday morning coming down has nothing to with an over abundance of libations, rather it is focused on my body adjusting to not smoking 20 plus cigars per day, for the last week. As I recover from the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas, I would like to reflect upon what was an amazing whirlwind of a week in Las Vegas.

 

The best part of the week was meeting with some old friends. It's not often I get to visit the factories outside the US and it's nice when they can come to you. It's also a great opportunity to talk with the blenders. It's nice to see the faces of the brands, the pictures you see in all the magazines, but it's special to speak with the folks who actually design the cigar. I love talking tobacco and there is nothing more pleasurable than picking the brains of these great artisans. Whether it's a question of why they used a particular blend or you just want to say "good job," it's always fantastic conversation.

 Also high on my list of accomplishments was the time I spent trying new items. We often get "pre-release" cigars throughout the year, but there is nothing like smoking a cigar for the first time and having the guy who made it staring at you and waiting for your feedback. What is so great about cigar people, is they are open to suggestion. If there is something you don't like, whether it be with the cigar or even the packaging, they want to hear it. Fortunately for me there was so much great stuff out there I didn't really have any bad experiences. The good far outweighed the bad.

 Another nice touch was the opportunity to have dinner each night with some of these fine folks. It's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the show and really talk tobacco. Here at ABC we have been studying the possibility of doing another private label cigar and I have been working on the blend for some time. It was interesting to discuss my tobacco choices with Juan Lopez of Gurkha Cigar. He thinks I should use my binder leaf for the wrapper, but I am really locked in on using my original recipe. I guess a few test sticks will decide what direction we go in.

 But in the end the cigar business is all about relationships. The cigar makers can make the most amazing cigars but it may get lost in the shuffle if there's not a friendly face behind the brand. For almost every cigar we carry at ABC, I can picture a face to go along with cigar. A unique personality that comes out in the blend and the taste of the cigar. Yuri Guillen, production manager of General Dominicana and blender of La Gloria Trunk Show, said it best, "This business is all about friendships, and you buy my cigars because you are my friend and there is a trust." Yuri, you hit the nail on the head and I can hardly wait until IPCPR 2014.

 Chris Gwaltney

@chrisgnole

Have you ever been to a baseball stadium and noticed the longest lines in the venue? Other than the women's restroom line, it is usually the beer lines. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a game in New York. Initially I was more thrilled about the craft beer selection available than the actual game. I also didn't feel near as bad about dropping $8-$12 a beer. I found that the local craft beer selection made the game even more enjoyable. I could not agree more with thefullpint.com’s statement, "Major League Baseball parks understand the importance of and for the most part, local craft beer."

"The availability of craft beer at ballparks is one more ounce of proof that the gospel of micro-brewed, quality made beers is spreading. Sports are so integrated within our culture:  they are one of the few things that can bring us all together.  The fact that craft beer is slowly weaving its way into this world is a step in the right direction," written on thesmokeypint.com. 

After experiencing a game recently and doing some research, I have found that not only is baseball an American pastime, but craft beer has become part of the tradition that brings us together. Beer has made such an impact that many stadiums are named after and/or are sponsored by beer companies. According to bleacherreort.com, "Stadiums are built for the enjoyment of the fans, and every stadium has something unique about it. Whether it is a restaurant built inside the stadium, or even just a unique food that has become a fan favorite, each stadium is built with the intention of it being the best and attracting fans." Another fun fact is several stadiums are noted for having brewpubs in them. What is your favorite team or stadium?

Nadine Sweeten, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant, Sarasota – Bee Ridge Road

Follow her on Twitter @abcbeernadines

Pinot Grigio Alternatives
Italy is simply a food and wine lover’s paradise. Home to more than a thousand indigenous grape varietals, Italy is also a country where almost every village has a native wine grape. Coincidently, it offers an array of unique, food-friendly dry whites that don’t go by the name Pinot Grigio. Many of these lesser-known wines are a better match for pairing with soft cheeses, pesto pasta, or fresh seafood.

Feudo Principi di Butera

Start with the original white grape of Tuscany, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, for a crisp wine with subtle floral, citrus and almond notes. Torre Terza Vernaccia di San Gimignano ($19.99), grown in vineyards with abundant clay and limestone, is a great example of the style.

Another local grape that’s making a splash is Vermentino. In the Maremma, the coastal region of Tuscany, Vermentino develops notes of apricot, herbs and flowers. Try the delicate Acquaguista Vermentino ($14.19) produced by Tenuta La Badiola or the richer flavors of Fattoria Querciarossa’s Fonte della Serpi ($19.99).

Insolia Vines

Vermentino is also a staple on the island of Sardinia where it’s an ideal choice with the local seafood. The Aragosta Vermentino from Cantina Santa Maria La Palma ($12.99) is a great match with shrimp scampi, lobster or tuna.

Perhaps the reference point for distinctive Italian white wines is the region of Campania. Vesuvius, the infamous volcano that once destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii, now lends its slopes and volcanic subsoil to a host of native grapes including Falanghina and Greco Bianco. Enjoy the Falanghina Benevento Lila ($12.19) and Greco di Tufo Nestor ($17.29) bottlings from Tenuta Cavalier Pepe with Campania’s world-famous cheese: mozzarella di bufala.

Winemaker Antonio Cufari

The island of Sicily is home to the obscure Insolia variety and is blessed with plenty of warm sunshine. As you would expect, the climate yields a white with juicy, exotic fruit and lush tropical flavors. Back in 2009, I visited with Casa Vinicola Zonin winemaker Antonio Cufari. We had lunch over his Fuedo Prinicipi di Butera Insolia ($12.99). It paired wonderfully with antipasti, bruschetta and a frittata made with potato and peas.

Bruschetta, frittata, antipasti

Jim Greeley, SW FL wine supervisor

All good things must come to an end, and sadly that rings true for our visit to Las Vegas and the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show. Our final day saw us visit with several cigar makers, including Rocky Patel, Altadis, Oliva, General, Quesada, and Padron.

We started things off with Rocky Patel. Not only did we pick up a few new items from Rocky, but we also added new cigars from both his brother Nish and his cousin Nimish. It's virtually impossible to find a cigar in the Patel portfolio that doesn't sell because Rocky has such a huge following of loyal fans, so for us it's just a matter of having enough room in the humidors. We also added their Cafe Latte cigars to our flavored family.

Our second stop of the day was with Altadis USA. If the name doesn't mean much to you, their brands Romeo Y Julieta, Montecristo, and H. Upmann should certainly ring a bell. Last year they launched the Romeo by Romeo and not only was it a huge commercial success, but it also received some serious critical acclaim as well. The Romeo by Romeo Pyramide was ranked the third best cigar of the year by Cigar Aficionado. This year they hope to duplicate that success with the introduction on the Monte. ABC guests can look forward to seeing the Monte in their neighborhood humidors soon—along with a new H Upmann line.

Giving the new Monte a taste test. It met the standard and will be in ABC stores soon.

Our next stop of the day was with Oliva. I am amazed at how much growth I have seen in Oliva sales this year and I think it has a lot to do with their dedication to getting people in the field and representing their brand to the consumer. Because of the hard work of our Oliva guy, Albert Sosa, there wasn't much to discuss with Oliva other than tell them how great their brand is doing. We did grab a few new items, which I will talk about in future blogs.

The third leg of the day (without a lunch break, mind you) was with General Cigar. Like Altadis, General has some huge power brands. With names like Punch, Macanudo, Partagas and Cohiba, they are certainly a "big guy" in the business. But as strong and storied and established as these names are, it's some of their other offerings like La Gloria, Foundry, and CAO where some really cool innovation is taking place. Let’s first start with a Rick Rodriguez and his CAO line. Rick has long been a close friend to ABC and it is great to see him at the level he is today as a blender and cigar maker. This year Rick rolled out his Flathead line which includes a 7x70 box-pressed cigar. It is definitely the only of its kind on the market and if you like the big ones, you will soon be able to pick one up at ABC.

Yours truly, Rick Rodriguez of CAO, and Steve "Big Mungo" Mungeer

After catching up with Rick it was time for Team La Gloria. We added quite a few of Michael Giannini 's newest offerings—expect to see an exciting new Foundry and a few new eclectic cigars like you have never seen before. Michael's costume and merchandising creativity only takes a back seat to his knowledge of tobacco. Of course Michael isn't the only member of Team La Gloria with an ability to create new artisan cigars. My friend Yuri Guillen may not dress as "progressively" as his teammate, but his skill for blending well-aged and rare tobaccos is second to no one. His contribution to this year is his 2013 Trunk Show. It is two different cigars, both with smoke able bands that are made with some extremely limited tobaccos. They are so limited that they are only able to produce 500 boxes per year and they also must change the recipe each year. They quickly run out of these each year, but Yuri set enough aside for us to include these into at least ten of our stores.

Our final two visits of the day and the show were with Quesada and Padron. After a nice conversation with our rep Terrence Reilly and cigar maker Manuel Quesada, we decided to pick up the Robusto size of the Oktoberfest to go along with the Uber. So to all of you craft beer fans, you're welcome.

Our meeting with Padron happened as they were turning out the lights, but we are able to maintain our partnership and we will continue to offer their fine lines of cigars. Look for their top-selling 3000 line in your neighborhood store in the future. I didn't use the term “near” because though Padron is a very popular brand, they are still a very small operation and things are a little slow moving.

Our evening and show was topped off by a great dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse with Dave Bullock from Rocky Patel. Although, Dave is a "little more slender" than I, he was almost my equal at putting away some fine steak, ribs, pork, chicken, sausage, and every other non-vegetable item brought to our table on a sword.

I am typing this as I sit awaiting my flight home, and I will close by saying something that rarely leaves my lips: "I don't need a cigar right now, I am good."

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits regional manager. Follow me on Twitter at @chrisgnole

Wine country in Northern California is beautiful in in July. Green is everywhere, especially on the vine and on the plate. I just returned from a week in Napa and Sonoma tasting for our Direct-To-You program as well as our Block series wines and Jackie label. As expected, we tasted plenty of wines but were careful in our selection. This was the first tasting/buying trip I have made to California, but I hope to make it an annual event.

We began our tasting at Clos Pegase, tasting with Oakville East Exposure Owner Elliot Stern. From there we rushed for a tasting and dinner with Rob and Kat McDonald, who bring us The Girls in the Vineyard, Rugged Hills and Circadia wines. Dinner was free range chicken and a trio of simply awesome salads. After dinner and a few more wines, including old magnums of Yarra Yering and Cullen Estate (Aussie, I know, but Rob is an Aussie and had imported these and other top Aussie wines earlier in his career) we drove out to the Cline ‘Pool House’ in the Sonoma Coast AVA to spend the first few nights. What a lovely stay!

Shayne and Elliot Stern at Clos Pegase

The next morning, we began with a stand-up breakfast at Joel Gott’s diner in St. Helena, Taylor Refresher. If you are ever in St. Helena or even close, make this place a must stop! On to Whitehall Lane, where we found a lot of available wines for our labels, including Vintners Mark 3 and the wine designed by our Facebook fans, Infinite Vine, as well as a few Block wines. The Leonardinis’ have it working on all four cylinders and are wonderful hosts! From there we drove to Raymond, for a tour, lunch and tasting with John Charles Boisset and his wine making staff. Another impressive winery, and more ‘finds’ for ABC! After this relaxing visit, we drove to Black Stallion, the jewel in the Delicato crown. Our boardroom style tasting uncovered another treasure trove of available wines, which we happily bought! Then dinner outside, where the salad selection was stunning--fresh beet and beet green salad, heirloom tomatoes… so much green I don’t remember ever eating so healthy!

Chef preparing dinner at Black Stallion, Napa

The next morning we began at Cline, our hosts for the week, where we found a lovely Zinfandel for our Block label as well as a few other bottles which will make their way to us soon. The Directors took us up to their working farm on the Sonoma Coast, where they invite people from the trade to spend three months working the farm, harvesting, getting dirty, and learning a different side of the business! Then on to Kunde, who will be supplying us with a few new Pinot Noir and Chardonnay selections. We tasted the upcoming vintage for our Jackie line of wines, and I can assure you these will be the best yet! They prepared a lunch for us up at the top of their vineyards, where you could view the entire Sonoma Valley appellation—simply gorgeous! We hated to leave, but Clay Shannon up in Lake County was preparing dinner, so we hit the road. After a few hours of driving straight uphill, we finally ended up on the pristine banks of Clear Lake and Vigilance winery. Here they produce Vigilance, Dalliance and a few other wines we love. Clay also has a few sheep on the ranch, hundreds in fact, that help in pruning and ground maintenance. They also taste very good! We snacked on lamb ribs during the tasting and ended the day
with inch and a half thick med-rare lamb burgers stuffed with goat cheese. Do I need to say more?

They don't call Sonoma "Valley of the Moon" for nothing!

All in all, for my first trip back to California in quite a few years, it was spectacular! The people, the wines, and of course, the foods! I think I need to make this trip twice a year…let’s see if I can get that in my contract!

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor. Follow Shayne on Twitter @abcwineshayne

Let me begin today by saying "what happens at the Drew Estate dinner, stays at the Drew Estate dinner." Actually it was a great evening, thanks to Rich and Drew.

 Our day began with our newest cigar partner, Davidoff. It was a great meeting in which we looked at some great products, including some rebranded Comachos. They had a terrific display that was filled with live scorpions. We also had a chance to visit with Matt Booth of Room 101 fame. If you have ever picked up a cigar magazine then you've seen his iconic "Don't feed the animals" ads.

 After Davidoff we headed over to our good friends and fellow Florida icon JC Newman. After some wonderful Cuban coffee we shared a few cigars and decided on bringing in some very limited and exclusive items from their portfolio. ABC guests can look forward to seeing their Diamond Crown line in some of our top cigar stores. It was also nice just sitting down and talking with Eric Newman, Bobby Newman, and Harry Preston.

After a quick lunch we shuffled over to Gurkha where we met with owner Kaisad Hansotia, Juan Lopez-blender extraordinaire, and chain rep Randy Veeser. As always, Gurkha has some exciting new brands and I am glad to say that we have greatly expanded our Gurkha portfolio. Guests can also look forward to seeing the "Godzilla" packs again for the holidays.

And yes, that is a bottle of single malt Laphroag on the table.

For our fourth stop of the day we met with Drew Estate, and let me say that they didn't disappoint. If you think Drew is just about making flavored or infused cigars, then you don't know Drew. If you read my blog posted the weekend of July 4th, you will recall that I acknowledged that in my opinion, Drew's Liga Privada line of cigars was amongst the finest in the world. Well, two days later the world's largest cigar publication agreed with me and named Liga Privada the top cigar line in the US. A huge honor and
greatly deserved. The only downside is the cigars are so good that they are hard to find. With limited production, only select merchants have the privilege of selling them. ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is one of those select merchants. I don't want to spoil the surprise but we're about to secure larger quantities of these items which means they will be sold in more stores.

 Our final stop of the day was with longtime partner Torano. Charlie Torano was as hospitable as ever and our chain rep Armando was equally friendly. We added a few new Torano lines, including the much anticipated cigars from Sam Leccia. I can't wait to see his black and white cigars on our shelves, which will go to all 113 of our walk-in humidor locations.

 Monday was a long day, ending with a Gurkha after party followed by dinner with Kaisad. If all Mondays were like this one, though I would not dread them as much.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney

Follow Chris on Twitter @chrisgnole 

Day two of the convention started with some Starbucks and an early impromptu meeting with my good friend Yuri Guillen, manager of cigar manufacturing for General Cigar. Yuri is also a great master blender responsible for some of the greatest La Gloria cigars you will ever find. He is also a great guy who was named after a Russian cosmonaut. That is something you don't find too often in the Dominican Republic. Although we weren't scheduled to meet with General Cigar today, I knew the first thing I had to do was visit with Yuri—after lighting up his new La Gloria Series R Black. The new Series R is a very flavorful Nicaraguan puro and I look forward to seeing this one in our stores really soon.

After visiting Yuri, Big Mungo (Steve Mungeer) and I met with a few boutique cigar owners. Not sure how many new boutique brands you will see in our stores, but it sure is fun talking with these guys. They are very passionate about their craft and it is amazing how diverse all of their backgrounds are.

Then I had an opportunity to visit with Sam Leccia. For those who aren't familiar with Sam, he used to work for Oliva and is the blender responsible for their popular Nub and Cain line of cigars. Sam decided to go out on his own and after being out of action for nearly two years due to non-compete reasons, he is now back and has created an amazing cigar line. His Black and White cigars are outstanding and you can definitely look forward to seeing these in our humidors in the near future. I really enjoyed engaging him in conversation about the tobacco and the aging methods he used. I could tell he would have loved to talk about his processes for a lot longer but he had a large group of people that wanted to meet and greet him so we had to say goodbye.

Sam Leccia and I discussing his tobacco

After lunch my next chore was to take the test to become a Certified Tobacconist. The test was a little tougher than I expected, but I am proud to say that I passed. So that makes Steve "Big Mungo" Mungeer and I the only Certified Tobacconists in the State of Florida who don't either work for a cigar company or tobacco only store or lounge. To celebrate we are going to have dinner with the good folks from Drew Estate. That dinner may be worthy of a blog by itself as the guys from Drew can be very colorful. I will have to tell everyone about that tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney--Follow me on Twitter @chrisgnole

We walked into the half empty boardroom and quietly sunk into a pair of overstuffed chairs, right as five men were in the middle of a conversation. Distracted, they looked up at us curious to know what we were doing there, but kept up their conversation on pinot noir grapes.

We looked around and noticed 15 uncorked wine bottles with makeshift labels stained with red wine; numbers and letters were scrawled across the white labels denoting…what? As the conversation progressed between Brad Lewis, Director of Wine Sales, Atanas Nechkov, Wine Supervisor and three men we hadn’t met yet, we quickly realized the numbers and letters combined to signify a certain clone of pinot noir from Laetitia Vineyards.

The other men at the table, we learned, were Eric Hickey, President and Winemaker at Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, Frank Bacon, State Wine Manager at Premier Beverage, and Brad Kinder, Broker for Kind Wines. The group in the board room was busy sipping and swirling different pinot noir clones before combining them into a blend to be used as Laetitia’s 2012 Harvest Moon Ranch Pinot Noir, a wine blended exclusively for ABC Fine Wine & Spirits every year.

Pouring clone X2-2, 777, Eric Hickey explained, “We basically look at this as a beauty contest.” Before his trip to Florida, Eric picked out his top 15 pinot noir clones from his 75 clones in various plots at Laetitia. These are the clones that normally go into Laetitia’s reserve wines, selling for around $50/bottle. Eric’s beauty contest statement couldn’t have been better timed either—the X2-2, 777 had an elegant flavor. Atanas described it as “really pretty,” and the rest of us just wanted to taste it again.

Eric Hickey blending the Pinot Noir juices

It took this group of wine experts only two tries to nail down the perfect pinot. If you'd like to view a video of Eric blending the juices, check it out here. The 2012 Harvest Moon Ranch Pinot Noir is a blend of six different clones and will be available in the spring of 2014—this way it has more time to age before it gets to you. And we can't wait for it to get to us.

Cheers,

Meghan and Hannah

Day one was uneventful for the most part. It was basically a day of travel. The flight included a handful of screaming children, but since we were able to land without ripping off the tail of the plane, I think things worked out for the positive.

 Our arrival in Las Vegas was a little too early to check in to our room right away, so we checked our bags and scoped out the casino. A quick visit to the sports book at the Venetian informed me that my Jaguars are at 200-1 to win the Super Bowl. I might have to drop at least fifty bucks on that pipe dream.

 After visually inspecting what games of chance would also require my attention this week, I headed over to the IPCPR check-in and secured my credentials for the show. I did take a brief peek inside and noticed almost every booth being feverishly worked upon. Although the room was not yet filled with cigar smoke, I could almost smell that heavenly aroma, nonetheless.

 A nice and heart-healthy breakfast that included double expresso along with chicken and waffles certainly prepped my taste buds for my first smoke in Vegas.

 So what cigar did I choose to kick off  IPCPR 2013?

I couldn't think of a better stick to start with than the exclusive Montecristo Las Vegas edition. This was a great smoke that had many similarities with the Montecristo New York I reviewed a few weeks ago. The Nicaraguan binder and Dominican filler, expertly topped off with a slick San Andres Criolla wrapper in the Vegas is a great smoke for anyone looking for a medium to full-bodied experience.

 The evening was topped off with a great dinner hosted by Bobby Newman and his son Dawson of JC Newman. Their hospitality is a great harbinger of things to come.

 Stay tuned for the rest of the week. Not only will it be filled with great cigars but there is also is no telling who I will run into this week.

 Long Ashes,

 Chris Gwaltney

Well it is finally here. The 2013 International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Convention officially kicks off on Sunday. As a matter of fact, as this blog is posted at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning I am just 20 minutes from landing in Las Vegas, NV. Now I know that a lot of people would be happy just spending a week in Sin City, but to be honest the venue matters little to me. This convention could be in Whynot, Mississippi and I couldn't care less. This trip is all about the cigars and the people who make them. And yes, Whynot is an actual town, most famously known for being the birthplace of David Ruffin. If you don't know who David Ruffin is then shame on you. Google it.

The main focus of this trip is meeting with cigar manufacturers and distributors and seeing what's new in the industry this year. They will be selling and we will have to decide what to buy. I am very fortunate to work for a company in which its two buyers responsible for purchasing cigars, amongst other things, aren't cigar enthusiasts. That affords me and my fellow brother of the leaf, Steve "Big Mungo" Mungeer, to come along and do all of the taste testing and sampling that will be required.

Today will be a down day. We will check-in, get a little rest after our 6 a.m. flight, then meet in the afternoon to discuss our strategy for the week. With so many cigars to smoke and only three full days to do so, it will take some proper planning. It's tough work but someone has to do it.

I will make sure that I keep all of those who follow my blog and twitter account updated with all of the festivities. As excited as I am to be here, I want all of our cigar enthusiasts to be equally excited because we will be coming back he with some really great products. So stay tuned--I will be blogging every day of the convention!

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits regional manager in Jacksonville. Follow him on Twitter @chrisgnole

I saw some tweets on Twitter the other day asking what is a good Shandy out there. This reminded me of the great summer quencher. The Shandy is the English version a mixture of a lager and lemonade. The Radler is the German version usually a mix of a Helles lager and lemon-lime soda and the Russ, which is a hefeweizen and lemon-lime soda. Radler, translating to cyclist in German, was invented in 1922 by Franz Kugler, owner of Gasthaus high in the mountains of Bavaria. He was running out of beer for the cyclists and hikers that day so he supplemented with lemon-lime soda and people immediately fell in love with the concoction. 

Leinenkugel has a summer Shandy as well as Shock Top. Stiegl is a German brewery that makes a fine Radler. Detroit Brewing Company makes a nice Radler where you taste the beer more with just a hint of lime. These are all offered by ABC. 

The Radler is not limited to lemon-lime. Grapefruit is popular with breweries as well as orange soda and even cola. Warsteiner offers all of these blends. I suggest creating your own with your favorite beer such as Hofbrau Original or Cigar City Hotter Than Helles and add fresh lemonade/orange soda/lemon-lime soda to taste. Ass Kisser Hefeweizen or Spaten Franziskaner and some Seven Up would make a nice Russ. Try a Witbier like Wittekerke or Ommegang Witte and some Fanta Orange. Summer is good to us beer drinkers.    

Adam Shugan, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant - Archer Road, Gainesville

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeeradams

Want to take home a little piece of history tonight? Want to try something from a property that once catered to kings and conquerors? Let me tell you a little about Groot Constantia in the Western Cape of South Africa, which we were fortunate enough to visit last year.

Groot Constantia was where fine wine really began in South Africa. Grapevines had been planted on the Cape when the first Europeans settled in South Africa in 1652, but they did not survive. Vines planted in 1656 produced South Africa’s first wine in 1659. Constantia came into the picture in 1685 when Simon van der Stel, the Cape’s first governor, received a large land grant and founded the Constantia wine estate. By 1692 the wines were noted for their high quality, and by 1699 the Constantia wines were exported to Europe where they were to achieve the legendary acclaim usually only granted to the great wine properties of France. It became the wine of kings and conquerors! It is said that Napoleon Bonaparte’s last wish before his death was to be served a glass of Constantia wine.

Constantia itself lies south of Cape Town on the southeast slope of the magnificent Table Mountain, facing toward False Bay. The major white grapes are sauvignon blanc, semillon and muscat; the major red grapes--cabernet sauvignon, merlot and shiraz. Your ABC wine team had the opportunity to walk around and take in the beauty and history of the place, as well as admire the stunning Cape Dutch architecture. I must say the wines certainly retained a good deal of their legendary status!

Brad Lewis and Bill Stobbs at Groot Constantia.

So why not take home a little piece of history tonight? Just throw a few kudo steaks wrapped in bacon on the grill and open up a bottle of Groot Constantia Shiraz 2010. You can’t argue with history!

Bill Stobbs, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills

Château Lagrange in Saint Julien during Fête de la Fleur.

This year's event was held on June 20th at Château Lagrange in Saint Julien, property of the Japanese drinks giant Suntory since 1983.

Michelin-starred chef Frederic Simonin’s fine culinary creations of the evening were paired with the following lineup of wines:

Château Le Sartre 2009, Pessac-Léognan, white

Château Labégorce 2005, Margaux

Château de Malle 2008, Sauternes

Château de Fieuzal 2010, Pessac-Léognan, white

Château Lafon-Rochet 2003, Saint-Estèphe

Château Lagrange 1995, Saint-Julien

Château Lafite Rothschild 1990, Pauillac, magnum

Château Suduiraut 2001, Sauternes

Fête de la Fleur dinner.

Atanas Nechkov, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineatanas

Last week I was especially fortunate to be invited to a very special wine dinner at the Capital Grille, hosted by Bodega Nicolás Catena Zapata. This amazing Argentine winery has been producing some of the finest, internationally acclaimed wines for many years. So to say I was thrilled to have the opportunity to taste through this incredible portfolio of wines, is quite the understatement.

The winery was started by the Italian immigrant, Nicola Catena, who left Italy and sailed to Argentina to escape the European famine in 1898. Catena planted his first Malbec vines in Mendoza in 1902. Nicola had a son named Domingo who was very much the optimist that his father was and truly believed in the future of Malbec in the high altitudes of the Andes. Years later, after the death of Domingo, his son Nicolás then took the reins and drove Catena Zapata’s Malbec to the heights it now sits upon, as one of the premier wines in the world today. Now, along with his daughter, Dr. Laura Catena, Nicolás maintains his place, creating what is considered to be among the greatest wines made today.

So, back to the dinner! This was nine wonderful courses matched perfectly by the culinary staff of the Cap Grille. The most striking and memorable wines of the evening for me were two Chardonnays…yes Argentine Chardonnay. The first was the 2009 Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay and the 2009 Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay; these were my wines of the night. These small production wines are easily mistaken for Grand Cru Burgundies, and I defy any of my fellow wine lovers to pick this out of a blind tasting and say, “Oh ya, from Argentina…for sure.” These two wines left quite an impression on most all of those in attendance. Now, I could go on and on about these two Chards, but they take nothing away from the red wines that put Catena Zapata on the map. From the 2008 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Malbec to the 2001 Nicolás Catena Zapata, these are absolutely delicious, powerful red wines. One was better than the next and, as I said earlier, matched so well with the food. This evening certainly was a check on my wine bucket list…next on the list?

Ken Amendola, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow him on Twitter @abcwinkena

Wait! I know what you're probably thinking. I must be really desperate for material to be blogging about another pinot grigio. After all, don't wine lovers scorn the incredible popularity of this bland, inoffensive, uninteresting wine? Well despite what some may think, sales of pinot grigio continue to grow in the United States.

But this is not "just" another pinot grigio. La Cappuccina Pinot Grigio is the newest addition to our Italian portfolio. Many of you are already familiar with the terrific quality wines produced at La Cappuccina (Soave, Fontego and Madego).

The Tessari family has been making wine at the La Cappuccina estate located in the Soave region for over a century. The Tessari's are the organic pioneers of Soave, having adopted organic methods and principles since 1985.

So how did producers of world class Soave start making pinot grigio? Elena Tessari explained the "Pinot Grigio is dedicated to our father who enjoyed this crisp wine and chose it when we were in Venice for Sunday lunch, and this was for him an acceptable alternative to Soave wine he deeply loved and cultivated and produced with great passion."

The Tessari's planted their pinot grigio on the same volcanic soils as the garganega used for the Soave. This pinot grigio is one of the only organically cultivated in the Veneto region. Refreshing, tangy fruit with delicate spice; elegant with excellent depth and length of flavor in harmony with pronounced mineral notes derived from the volcanic soils where the vines live. This is NOT just another pinot grigio.

Paul Quaglini, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow him on Twitter @abcwinepaulq

July has to be one of my favorite times of the year. I am but a week away from my journey to Las Vegas for the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Convention. From July 13 through the 17th "Sin City" will be the center of the cigar world and I will have the good fortune to be a part of it. Of course this weekend is the time that we extend our Fourth of July celebrations.

As we commemorate that wonderful 1328 word document that inspired a ragged and loose confederation of common people to break away from the security of foreign rule to the uncharted path of liberty, I can't help but be thankful for all the freedom I have today. It wasn't the Declaration of Independence for that took the blood of patriots, but it did inspire them toward the cause.

 I marvel at the level of courage it took for our forefathers to risk everything, for a concept and form of self rule that had never been employed throughout recorded history. It's this same spirit that encourages entrepreneurs today to gamble their financial security for the chance at realizing a business dream.

The cigar industry is filled with these mavericks. Consider that tobacco must be paid purchased, cured, processed, aged, made into cigars, aged again, then shipped for sale. That's a lot of checks for a cigar maker to write before the first stick is ever sold in a tobacco shop. And that doesn't factor in poor weather, mold and bugs, and of course political unrest. We have to remember that many of these factories are situated in countries where things can be "politically unstable" to say the least. And let's not forget about our government, which consistently looks for ways to raise taxes and enforce strict environmental standards. Why would anyone want to take a chance with cigars?

 Well, just like the Cuban exiles who left behind everything except their love and knowledge of tobacco along with a few seeds, there is a new generation of those taking a leap for the leaf.

Jonathon Drew is a shining sign that the entrepreneurial spirit is still alive and well in the cigar world. In 1995, Jon began a partnership with fraternity brother Marvin Samel. They started with a kiosk in the World Trade Center Mall and today they operate one of the largest, and visually stunning, cigar factories in the world. Drew Estate, located in Esteli, Nicaragua, is an estate in every meaning of the word.  They also, in my opinion, manufacture one of the greatest cigar lines in the world, Liga Privada. Not bad for a couple of college guys who were once known more for their flavored cigars and also experienced many financial pitfalls over the years.

 I look forward to not only getting a chance to see Jonathon in a few weeks, but also all of other cigar  industry mavericks. There will be a lot of rich tobacco history on display in Las Vegas, some old and some recent. I can't think of a month more befitting than July to celebrate this entrepreneurial spirit. And of course I will write all about it.  - Chris Gwaltney, @chrisgnole

PS: From Saturday, July 13 until the end of the show mid-week, I'll be filing extra blog reports to keep you up to date--BOLO for dual blogs each of those days!

When you think of your favorite beer, what first comes to mind? Is it the Company? Is it the name? Is it the taste, smell, feel of the beer?  Or is it something else? The answer is all of the above. It takes all of it.

My favorite is one that I like to call a game changer, one that stands out from the rest, and one that has recently gained a lot of popularity in the beer community. It is the one, the only Innis and Gunn Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer. Now you may be saying to yourself, “I’ve tried it and it’s good, delicious, different, unique,” and if you said bad, try it again. Because sir or ma’am, you are wrong. Anyways the reason why this beer is my favorite is because it has everything I am looking for:  a good body mouthfeel with tons of great flavors and a smooth finish—something I can drink on any occasion. Whether I’m at a party, small family get-together, special event, business dinner, date, out with friends at a bar or at home on a calm night. It is very versatile.  

I first got to experience this ambrosia one night when I was out with friends at the local World of Beer downtown. When I first saw it I thought to myself there is going to be something different about this beer. From its clear amber/ bronze color, to the inch of creamy foam head with a nice lacing, to the vanilla,  caramel and rum note aromas coming from it that just seem to invigorate the senses. I knew from the first smell I was going to really enjoy this beer. Finally I take the first sip that just takes me to a place I’ve only experienced as a kid. Think of the first time you went to Disney World or your first piece of candy—this was one of those moments. At first I couldn’t even comprehend what my mouth just experienced. So I go in for the second sip. It hits the tongue everywhere. It has a vanilla and caramel sweetness to it, then you are hit with a wave of rum (that’s not too strong but has enough presence to let you know it’s there) that pairs quite nicely with the smooth oaky finish. It has a nice medium body mouthfeel that lingers just enough to tease you and leave you wanting more.  

I finish the beer wanting to get another, craving another, but too much of a good thing is always bad, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment I just had. Every time I have this beer I am taken to back to this experience whether in bottle or on tap.  If you’ve never tried this beer go get it right now and have your mouth, tongue, palate taken on a magic carpet ride. Let me know what you think of it.

John Wood, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant – 4th Street, St. Petersburg

Follow me on Twitter @abcbeerjohnw