A jumping golden or black panther, a symbol familiar to all cognac connoisseurs, embodying the grace and strength of a predator, became a Meukow design element in 1990 and is found both on labels and as a bulge on the bottle, depending on the class and type of drink. In Russian, the brand, as soon as they do not pronounce – and “Meukov”, and “Meikov”, and “Mikov”. “Mikov” should be considered correct, since the surname of the founders of the company and the trademark of German origin and in German is pronounced that way.
The history of the drink, which is sometimes called the “Russian project”, began in 1850, when the Russian Tsar Alexander II sent two white wine supplier brothers in his service to France for training. Germans from Silesia, August-Christoph and Gustav Maikov, had to study the production of cognac in the province of Charente to the subtleties in order to provide Russia with “cognac from Cognac”. The brand’s slogan “The best of the best lands” was born just then.
The brothers liked learning so much that already in 1862 they opened their own company Meukow & Co in the city of Cognac and began to shape their future success with the registration of a trademark. The first deliveries of cognac were indeed organized in Russia, but then the brothers made useful contacts, became close friends with the shipowner Thomas Shepard and made him their business partner. And this meant that in the 70s the whole world opened up before the “Maikov” – merchant ships delivered cognac to the farthest corners. The drinks were already a success in the New World and Southeast Asia when August-Christoph Maikov died in 1878 and Gustav sold the business to the Shepherd family, who owned the cognac house until 1905.
Since then, the company has changed hands several times, until in 1979 it was acquired by Michel Coste, head of the CCG (Compagnie Commerciale de Guyenne) concern. He owned factories for the production of not only cognac, but also brandy, wine, liqueurs. Cognac under his management continues to develop rapidly, Meukow is now sold in 80 countries around the world. Since 2012, the Compagnie de Guyenne has been headed by Michel Coste’s son, Philippe.
Interesting facts about the brand
- Maikov specialists are convinced that the best qualities of their cognac are the result of mixing spirits from all six regions of the Charente province.
- The company often releases premium drinks by the date – state anniversaries, company anniversaries and other significant events in the life of France. And released in honor of the change from the millennium, Meukow received silver at the cognac exhibition in 2001 in Paris.
- The company’s chief blender is one of Cognac’s most experienced winemakers, Claude Merchadoux, who has been working at Meukow since 1990. It is thanks to his talent that the taste and aroma of cognac are perfectly harmonious.
- Today, “Maikov”, as in the beginning of its history, is popular among those in power: it is regularly delivered to the British House of Lords, to the American State Department, to the Russian Kremlin.
Types of cognac Maykov
- Meukow XO (40%). An amber drink made from Ugni Blanc grape spirits aged in oak barrels for 20 to 25 years. Delicate floral aroma with notes of dried cherries, apples and peach. Harmonious taste with hints of fruit, dark chocolate and smoked prunes. Long nutty aftertaste. Cognac received silver at the International Vinalies Challenge in 2004. Served as a digestif.
- Meukow VSOP (40%). Golden-amber cognac of the Very Superior Old Pale class made from five-year-old spirits has an almond-vanilla aroma and a harmonious fruity taste with hints of raisins and candied orange. Long spicy aftertaste. The drink received gold in 2002 at the Vinalies Oenologist International Challenge, and in 2003 at the Estonian Wine Challenge in Tallinn. And in 2004 he was awarded the title of “Cognac Trophy” at the IWSC. Recommended by connoisseurs as a digestif.
- Meukow VS (40%). Golden cognac class Very Special is made from spirits of one grape variety – “Ugni Blanc”, which matured in oak barrels for six years. Pleasant aroma with notes of dried fruits and perfectly balanced raisin-prune taste with a slight oak tartness. Warming spicy aftertaste. The drink is good as a digestif, but also goes well with fruits.
