I'm having troubles finding the npc named Sam Guvenne, that starts a quest, specifically I've read on Elder Scrolls Wiki that "Sam appears in the tavern of the town closest to the Dragonborn upon reaching level 14, where he challenges the Dragonborn to a drinking competition" but problem is, I'm level 28 now and I have no idea where I hit level 14.. I looked in some Inns, but he's nowhere to be found.. Anyone with the same issue found him anywhere particular maybe? Any help would be appreciated
Also, I'm playing on Xbox

I have always found him at the Whiterun inn, over several games.

I actually have found him at the Bee and Barb in Riften before.

That staff that you get as a reward is the most powerful staff I have come across in the game.

I have always met him in Ivarstead (3 times) but this time I couldn't find him anywhere I looked

I'm doing the Oblivion Walker achievement and I have 14 daedric artifacts, I just need that last Quest from Sam Guevenne.

I was literally in every Inn in Skyrim, even in the small villages (Ivarstead, Rorikstead, Riverwood etc.), to different hours - I'm now travelling through Skyrim clockwise (and mix it up sometimes)... did some sidequests when I had enough of it...

I reached Level 44 now - still no sign of Sam Guevenne.

Can ANYONE PLEASE explain me what I have to do to trigger this son of a...

I think he finds you but only after Level 14. He found me at the Whiterun tavern. It seems like he should have found you by now at your high level though.

I met him in the inn at Winterhold outside the college.

I found him in Dawnstar. I was level 38 or 39 at the time. (Didn't do his quest; I'm a teetotaler )

A word of warning. The Sanguine Rose won't work if you have Elemental Potency as a perk.