Meukow Celebrates its 150th Anniversary (1862-2012)

The two brothers Auguste-Christophe et Gustave Meukow went to France in the late 1900s to source cognac for the Tsar of Russia. Well they never returned to Russia and created Cognac Meukow in August 1862. The Maison Meukow changed hands a number of times until in 1979 Michel Coste acquired it.

Cognac Meukow Founders Brothers 1862

This month the Coste family celebrates 150th years of Cognac Meukow but at the same time the success of their family business named Compagnie de Guyenne. The family has completed some outstanding milestones worth celebrating which includes:

. Compagnie de Guyenne established in 1977 by Michel Coste (father).

. 2012 one of the largest cognac negociant (80% of their cognac is used for Meukow). My estimation No.7th ... with Distillerie de Matha and Cognac Brugerolle.

. Michel Coste coming up in 1993 with the panther logo for Meukow though thought provoking at the time now proves to be the start of todays' modern school of thought towards 'different is better', sex appeal and seduction. Some new ideas at the time now commonly used in the cognac industry.

. Diversity of business: 42 millions d'euros, 50% en cognac, 25% en brandy, 15% en pineau, 10% in other products such as liqueurs and other spirits.

. Employs 84 people. Not an easy thing in France!

. Renovation of the headquarter 'rue Pascal-Combeau in Cognac' into a sensual cognac experience for visitors named 'from amber to light'.

. Philippe Coste (son) President of Compagnie de Guyenne since 1996, and President of the Bureau national de l'interprofessionnel du cognac (BNIC) in 2012.

. Recent agreement (July 2012) with Puy Gaudin in jointly making a brand of Pineau des Charentes taking 30% of the total market of Pineau des Charentes (total is about 100,000 hecto/year).

This can only be explained by a strong family support and ties in the industry. Michel and Colette Coste (parents), and their 3 children Philippe Coste, Marie-Laure Brugerolle, Celine Viard, and son-in-law Claude Brugerolle plus Francoise (spouse of Philippe). 

Feliciations / Congratulations !

Cognac Meukow 150 years Anniversary

Sources:

www.meukowcognac.com

www.charentelibre.fr

List of the Most Expensive Cognacs

The most expensive products do not make necessarily the best products but more expensive products may be better than standard products as a rule of thumb. The cognac is often the most expensive spirits available in a retail store or the menu of a premium restaurant.

Several cognacs are often referred to be the most expensive cognacs including:

1) FOR SALE:

a) Henri IV Dudognon Heritage: about 2 million USD. 100 years old cognac with a regal packaging. The bottle is dipped in 24k gold and sterling platinum and adorned with 6,500 brilliant cut diamonds. Offered for sale in Dubai.

Cognac Dudognon Henry IV most Expensive

b) Another example of most often-quoted expensive cognac is Hennessy Cognac Beauté du Siècle as translated 'beauty of the century'. It comes in a small mirrored treasure chest designed by a team of artists including Jean-Michel Othoniel which is very visually appealing - with no less than a Baccarat crystal bottle. Only 100 of these cognacs were made to symbolize each year making a century. The cognac is hand-delivered to buyers by members of the Hennessy board.  $235,000 per bottle.

Hennessy Cognac Beaute du Siecle Most Expensive Cognac

B. FOR AUCTION:

According to the Guiness World Records, the most expensive cognac was sold at an auction in China last Sept. 24th 2011. This was a 1858 bottle of Pre-Phylloxera Cognac called Cuvee Leonie  by Cognac Croizet auctioned for 160,000USD at The Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai.

Cognac Croizet Leonie Most Expensive Cognac

C. Broken Glass

Last June 22nd 2012, the record for the most expensive cognac bottle broken by mistake was established. A regular customer at London's Playboy Club  managed to destroy a estimated 78,000 USD bottle of historic cognac Clos de Griffier Vieux dating back from 1788.

The customer had ordered two glasses for 16,000 USD and then asked to look at the bottle. At this price how can one refuse to show the bottle. Unfortunately, while looking at the bottle he dropped it on the floor.  No one was hurt but it is a shame.

Cognac Clos du Greffier Most Expensive Cognac

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com (23 July 2012)

guinnessworldsrecords.com

http://neveryetmelted.com/categories/beaute-du-siecle

Cartak, the First Chinese Investor to Enter the Closed and Little World of Cognac

People are always surprised to hear that the cognac origin dates back to 500 years ago. They are also surprised to find out that overall it has been an industry which has grown continuously during this period. This growth is well explained by the support of the growing economies of each time. In other words, in 500 years it has not away been the same countries leading economically. Kind of like a relay of countries sustaining the growth of cognac sales through out 500 years: British, Dutch, American, Japanese, Russian, Scandinavian ... and now Chinese.
No surprises that these different consumer countries took a significant part in the building of what is today. These foreigners have influenced cognac and in some instances led cognac. So many brands have English or Irish origins Martell, Remy Martin, Hennessy, Courvoisier, Delamain, Hardy, Meukow, ...
Dutch have significantly influenced from a business practice in reference to 'brandy' ---> from the Dutch word brandewijn (burnt wine).
It was expected and it is natural that Chinese are interested in investing in Cognac, as cognac needs it - remember 99%is exported. France is a welcoming country but one foreigner has to follow the rules, values and culture and not try to change them to his/her  own.
This week breaking news is certainly the announcement of the first Chinese investor CARTAK MATINI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED acquiring Cognac Menuet. Menuet was not too long ago still in Saint-Meme les Carrieres in Grande Champagne near Segonzac. Originally started in 1850, the Menuet business had reduced from a full business with vineyard and else to a BP address and less than 20,000 bottles/year sales.

Cognac Menuet Old Website

Now, with Cartak one can hope this will become a source of positive endorsement from a foreigner using cognac resources to expand local business: some new blood one may say! According to Charente Libre, the owner of Cartak is making connections with local businesses and elected officials to ensure that everyone is reassured of the Chinese company good intentions. One may remember the not so positive 'noise' created recently by investors coming from Russia and investing in the Cognac region with questionable ethics.
It will take sometime for everyone to get used to the change of order but life is such than adapting is necessary for survival.

It is interesting to me that the first Chinese company coming in Cognac region be from Hong Kong. Perhaps this makes sense, next should be Singapore, then Taiwan and followed by mainland Chinese investors ... well this is an assumption!
Cognac-Expert.com which uncovered this news first makes a good point in their blog by discussing the annual growth of sales for mature cognacs due to Asian consumptions of XO qualities, and the limited supplies that only time can replenish. Will Chinese and Asian people be patient?

Sources: Charente Libre and www.cognac-menuet.com and cognac-expert.com

VVIPS are Expecting Gold Medal Services at the London 2012 Olympic Games

VVIPs have all arrived in London this summer to experience the London 2012 Olympic Games. These rich jet setters are expecting nothing less than gold medal services. Royalties, actors, singers, politicians, business people, celebrity sportsmen, and lookalikes ... Loft rentals, penthouses, mega yachts, helicopters, limousines, shoppings, river diners, kids and dogs sitters, quick trips in South of France and extravagant night-lifes will have to be staged.

Everything gets upgraded including cocktails. Nightclub Chinawhite has mixed up London’s most expensive cocktail for its Olympic after-party. My favorite cocktail: a short version of the French 75 - champagne and cognac.

Chinawhite Nightclub London Olympic Cocktail 2012 Champagne and Cognac

Made with Champagne Luxor 24-carat gold-leaf and Hennessy Paradis cognac. And as for the 'cherry on top' it  has a handmade set of 18-carat gold rings at the bottom of each glass. Circonstantially priced at £2,012 (3150 USD). Not so expensive considering the world most expensive coktail is according to the Guiness Book of Records 7000USD available at the Skyview Bar of one of the highest hotel built on earth (4th), 'the Burj Al Arab' Hotel in Dubai.

If you are an olympians it is free, so you have 3 more days!

Sources: NBC news and huffington Post and eater.com

Once upon a Time they Were Crocodiles and Even Sharks in Cognac

From my estimation there have been over 1000 brands of cognac in history. Currently, I evaluate a maximum of 400 brands in commerce, but only up to 100 brands that I would deem active. Active meaning available outside of the local hand-to-hand market.   Perhaps, there are only about 40 brands having a worldwide commercial plan. What is interesting to me is that some of these brands/producers are actually unknown but quite large producers. No one knows them, or virtually no one, but in fact some I consider huge. Cognac Garandeau is one very good example:

* 140 hectars of Borderies.

* 4 operating alambics (pot stills).

* Plenty aging capacity, warehousing, resources, etc...

Garandeau is more famous under the business name Group Garandeau. This company is mostly producing compounds for the buiding industry such as concrete, sand, wood, etc...

Originally a cognac producer the Garandeau family in the mid 1900s started exploited the quarry on their land to become a major world player in the supply and distribution of building materials and aggregates. In fact, the company key figures are quite impressive:

* 650 employees

* 8th largest turn over in the region of Cognac, and 3rd largest employer too.

* 12 quarries in Cognac, over 100 trucks, 2 factories, and many sub-divisions ... such as contracting, building, trading, transport etc.

* Over 100 million euros sales.

The family has kept the cognac side of the business and Béatrice Soucaret one of the great grand-daughters is still in charge of the property in Cherves Richemont where they started their first quarry, i.e., Domaine de Fontaulière. Most of the production is sold to the cognac trading houses but I believe there is still a small portion of the cognacs available for sale locally in the Borderies.

Domaine de Fontauliere

In recent years, important fossil discoveries were found on the quarry sites form the Garandeau. The Garandeau family showed incredible civism by (1) letting paleontologist scientists study the prehistorical life that was once in Charentes/Cognac for over a decade, but (2) they were generous enough to give away all the findings to national museums in France such as Angouleme Museum (www.angouleme.fr/museeba) for the public benefits. A rich collection of dinosaurs, and other creatures were found including some prehistorical crocodiles. It amuses me to think that they were crocodiles and even sharks once upon a time in Cognac!

The Garandeau family has shown great spirit and leadership in driving business in the area, as well as showing kind global public spirit embracing the fossil search on their land. Unfortunately, I was sorry to hear last 30th July 2012, that Jean-René GARANDEAU, the father passed away at 91 years old. My condolences. 

Garandeau Crocodile Fossil Head in Cognac

Sources: Photos and data www.garandeau.org

Science Fiction is Catching Up on Us - See How Google Is Mapping Cognac

Google Earth Video Car in Rue Saulnier Downtown Cognac

WHAT IS THIS?

This is a car with a 360 angle radius camera mounted on the roof.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

It allows for video mapping the street while driving.

WHO CARES?

People who want to make virtual visit.

This is one of my dream from February 2000 where I dreamed that one day we would be able to go on virtual vacation or visit far away friends without being there. Today, it does look more realistic but in 2000 people called this 'science fiction'. I call it teleportage: a mixture of teleconferencing/skype and Google Earth.

That's it - it is happening. This photo was taken on Monday 23rd July 2012, and it shows a Google Earth car going through downtown old Cognac to map the city street, precisely on Rue Saulnier. At this date only the major streets www.google.com/earth/index.html http://www.google.com/earth/index.html but not the smaller streets. This is a fun and exciting news. Perhaps you will soon be able to go to visit Hennessy or Otard in this street without having to be there but by borrowing a proxy which will act as a robot/gnome taking you virtually around. 

Download your free Google Earth Software here: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html

The Other Games in the UK - Results of the 2012 International Wine & Spirit Competition

I am going to talk about the UK and gold medals ... I know everyone has the eyes riveted on the UK right now watching the London 2012 Olympic Games but this is not about the OG. This is a different kind of competition called the International Wine & Spirit Competition (ISWC).

The International Wine & Spirit Competition released the results of its 2012 ratings for spirits this week. The results for the wine category were already announced in June. Traditionally, spirits results come one month after the wines.

ISWC was founded in 1969 and is one of the premier wine & spirits rating international competition. SEE PREVIOUS BLOG in JULY 2012 for a review of the best wine & spirits rating competitions. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

Besides the rigorous judging completed by a panel of professional experts at the ISWC, this competition is unique in the sense that the spirits are lab tested through chemical and microbiological analysis by an independent laboratory. This add a rather scientific twist to this competition which I have find rather academic and professional but it does not play much role in the rating itself.

My Comments:

. Congratulations to Baron Otard which I think is the ‘grand’ winner from this competition. As a matter of fact, right now I am working on a blog just on Baron Otard as I was there a few days ago dressed like a tourist walking around incognito. My take is that they have made a great improvement towards better quality cognacs.

. These ratings also announce the return of Bisquit I suppose.

. Rémy Martin VSOP Mature Cask Finish Cognac (receives Silver Outstanding) is the new expression of Remy VSOP and it is replacing the enigmatic dark green frosted bottle with a more common clear glass bottle. I like to see the color of cognac so I am more in favor of the clear glass. But I am sure it must not have been an easy decision to make.

. Courvoisier 21 and 12 collection is not consensual but it surely get a great score with a gold medal for the 21.

. As one would predict, Hine is particularly well represented with modest ratings for the premium cognacs. I think their Hine Rare VSOP is outstanding so no surprise to me.

. Cognac Park Extra is rewarded with a gold medal which is perfectly justified.

. Many private labels and sub-brands have done well, so business as usual.

. Some surprises and questions unanswered to me: why they are so many brands which have their VS and XO rated the same, as well as for instance the 4 distilleries from Royer rated the same, I do not think it is possible and I wonder ... I have had a number of experience where I could not prefer a VSOP to a VS, or an XO to a VSOP, but there should be a significant gap in evaluating between a VS and an XO!

GOLD OUTSTANDING MEDAL

Baron Otard VSOP

Hine Rare VSOP

Frapin Chateau Fontpinot Cognac Grande Champagne XO

ISWC Winners 2012

GOLD MEDAL

Courvoisier 21 Cognac Grande Champagne

Bisquit Cognac VSOP

Bisquit Prestige Blended Cognac VSOP

Cognac Park XO Extra Grande Champagne

Louis Royer Extra Grande Champagne Cognac

Dupuy Tentation Cognac XO

SILVER OUTSTANDING MEDAL

ABK6 Cognac Extra

Cognac Leyrat VSOP Premium Fins Bois

Cognac Leyrat XO Fine Bois

Double Crown Cognac VSOP (ABK6)

Courvoisier XO

Baron Otard VS

Baron Otard XO Gold

Cognac Croizet 989

Cognac de Luze XO Fine Champagne

Pierre Ferrand Ancestrale

Cognac Campagnere VSOP

Rémy Martin VSOP Mature Cask Finish Cognac

Rémy Martin Vintage 1989 Cognac

H by Hine VSOP

Bache-Gabrielsen Grande Champagne Cognac Hors d'Age

Cognac Prulho Eclat XO

SILVER MEDAL

A. de Fussigny XO 24 Carats

Cognac Reviseur XO Petite Champagne

Double Crown Cognac XO Extra Petite Champagne (ABK6)

Albert De Montaubert Cognac Extra  http://www.montaubert.com

Chevalier Cognac VS

Courvoisier VS

Bisquit Cognac VS Classique

Bisquit Blended Cognac XO

Marks and Spencer Monnet Cognac VSOP

Ile de Ré Fine Island Cognac

Camus VS Elegance Cognac

Camus VSOP Elegance Cognac

Camus XO Elegance Cognac

Baron Otard Extra 1795

Cognac Croizet XO Grande Champagne

Cognac Croizet Expo Universelle

Cognac Alfred de Luze Fine Champagne

Cognac Gautier 1755 Extra

Cognac Gautier VSOP

Cognac VSOP Prince Hubert de Polignac

Deau Cognac Black Collection

Deau Cognac Louis Memory Collection

Deau Cognac VSOP

Richelieu XO Fine Champagne Cognac (Distell Ltd)

Merlet Cognac Brothers Blend

Rémy Martin Centaure Cognac

Rémy Martin 1898 Coupe Fine Champagne

Hine Antique XO 1er Cru

Jenssen Cognac XO Grande Champagne

Jenssen Epiphanie Hors d'Age Cognac Grande Chamapagne

Vieux Garçon Cognac V.S.  (Lidl UK)

Hienoa Konjakkia VS 6 Year Old  ( Lignell & Piispanen - lignellpiispanen.fi )

Louis Royer VS Cognac

Louis Royer VSOP Cognac

Louis Royer XO Cognac

Distillerie Chantal Bons Bois Cognac (Louis Royer)

Distillerie D'Aumagne Fins Bois Cognac (Louis Royer)

Distillerie des Saules Borderies Cognac (Louis Royer)

Distillerie de L'Ecole Petite Champagne Cognac (Louis Royer)

Cognac Leopold Raffin VSOP

Martell XO

Hine Homage to Thomas Hine Cognac XO

XO Royal Prince Hubert de Polignac

BRONZE MEDAL

Courvoisier Connoisseur Collection 12 YO

Ile de Ré - Double Matured Cognac

Ile de Ré - Cliffside Cellar Cognac

Cognac Croizet VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac

Cognac Croizet Extra Grande Champagne

Pierre Ferrand Sélection des Anges

Cognac Gautier VS

Cognac Gautier XO Gold & Blue

Cognac VS Prince Hubert de Polignac

Cognac XO Prince Hubert de Polignac

Deau Cognac VS Elegance

Deau Cognac XO Collection

Cognac Park XO

Cognac Campagnere XO

Cognac Maison Rouge VSOP (ie, Hardy/H. Mounier)

Martell Cordon Bleu