To say we got off to a great start at the 82^nd International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Convention Las Vegas, would be a huge understatement. After traveling across the country on Saturday afternoon, we arrived at our destination just in time to attend a welcome party hosted by our friends at Quesada Cigars. I’m not sure if they were catering to us specifically but it certainly seemed that way when they threw this get-together at a place called The Whiskey Attic. It’s hard to think of a more appropriate venue for a bunch of guys from ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. It was an evening of cigars, food, craft beer and of course whiskey. Actually we had over a thousand choices to choose from when it came to the brown stuff. Being the first night in town we paced ourselves nicely and retired without too much excitement in anticipation of our first day of the trade show.

Steve Mungeer and I at The Whiskey Attic

Aided by the effects of jet lag, Sunday morning came a little too soon. We had just enough time for a quick breakfast and we were off to our first meeting with Altadis. For those not familiar, Altadis is the company that is responsible for such iconic brands as Montecristo, H. Upmann and Romeo Y Julieta. At approximately 9:15 I was enjoying my first cigar of the show, a new item from Montecristo that is a collaborative effort with the Plasencia family in Nicaragua. It is Montecristo’s first time doing a Nicaraguan stick, and I can’t think of a better family to team up with than the Plasencia family.

Steve Mungeer and I with Matt Booth maker of Room 101 cigars.

Others we visited on Sunday were Rocky Patel, Torano, Villager, Davidoff, Christian Eiroa and Kristoff Cigars. Not only can you expect some new things from all the vendors we visited on Sunday, but we added new lines never before carried by ABC, and I am very excited about it. Coming soon to your neighborhood store you will find the brands Asylum 13, Kristoff and Room 101. The Asylum line of cigars is the masterpiece of Christian Eiroa, the creator of the famous Camacho family brand which has become synonymous with boldness and Honduras. Kristoff is a line of cigars that guests have requested numerous times and these will be a welcome addition to ABC. As far Room 101, if you’ve ever picked up a cigar magazine you are familiar with the maker of this label, Matt Booth. He has a very distinctive look with his spiked hair, large framed glasses and signature tattoos. Matt is an icon in the industry and we are excited to bring his boutique quality cigars into our humidor.

Can you say 80 ring gauge? Yes, you will be able to buy that fat boy on the right at ABC in the near future.

After an amazing first day at IPCPR we ended things with a nice dinner with our friends from Rocky Patel. We also had the pleasure of hearing some great baseball stories from former big league slugger, Gary Sheffield. Gary partnered with Rocky Patel several years ago and launched his own line of cigars, and he certainly made the evening extra special with his stories about his playing days in the big leagues and some of the characters of the game he encountered throughout his 23 year career in Major League Baseball.

I don’t know how we will top day one, but I’m certain we will do our best to do so. Check back tomorrow when I discuss our visits with JC Newman, Padron, General Cigar and Drew Estate.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits North Florida regional manager, Certified Tobacconist and Cicerone Beer Server

Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris