The holiday period invites reflection, hospitality, and the quiet continuity of tradition. Selecting a spirit for this time of year is less about simple preference than about heritage, craftsmanship, and the sense of occasion a bottle brings to the table. Two expressions from Meukow: the Meukow Feline VSOP, and a thoughtfully curated Meukow XO pairing experience, capture these dimensions with clarity.
Together, they articulate different modes of celebration: the VSOP offers warmth, accessibility, and elegance; the XO introduces depth, patience, and an almost meditative pause between courses, conversations, and the turning of the year.
A Short History of Meukow
Meukow’s origins trace to 1862, when brothers Auguste-Christophe and Gustav Meukow were sent to the Charente by Tsar Alexander II to secure high-quality eaux-de-vie. Recognizing the potential of the region, they founded A.C. Meukow & Co. in Cognac, establishing a house that would steadily build an international reputation.
In 1979, the brand joined Compagnie de Guyenne, a family-owned group whose stewardship broadened distribution while preserving continuity and identity. The panther emblem, introduced in the 1990s, has since become synonymous with Meukow, signalling power, refinement, and a supple aesthetic. Today, the house is present in more than 80 markets worldwide.
Location and Wine Tourism
Meukow is based at 26 rue Pascal Combeau, in the historic center of Cognac. The visitor experience integrates architectural heritage with contemporary multimedia interpretation. Throughout 2025, guests can join a guided, 45-minute tour that includes the Chai Paradis, home to treasured eaux-de-vie, and concludes with a structured tasting of three expressions.
Chai Meukow, a former warehouse transformed into a gastronomic venue, extends the visit with cuisine by Chef Cédric Coulaut, designed specifically to interact with the house’s spirits. The result is an immersive encounter that combines pedagogy, hospitality, and gastronomy in a way that feels both rooted and forward-looking.
I’ve been lucky to experience both the tour and cooking with the chief, which was an extraordinary experience!
Tasting: Meukow Feline VSOP
The VSOP blend, aged beyond the category minimum, shows balance and precision.
Nose: candied orange, plum, apple, subtle florals, and gentle spice.
Palate: supple texture with caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and faint leather, lifted by citrus.
Finish: smooth, persistent, lightly spiced oak.
It performs beautifully on its own and pairs especially well with nut-based desserts or aged cheeses. Its familiarity, nuance, and quiet grace make it particularly suited to holiday gatherings.
Elevating the Table: Meukow XO
In contrast, Meukow’s XO, drawn from older eaux-de-vie, offers layered complexity and a slower rhythm. The category requires significant aging, and here it reveals aromas of dark chocolate, orange confit, toasted almond, and molasses, followed by a silk-textured palate and a long, warming finish.
Suggested pairings include:
• Bûche de Noël with dark chocolate
• Duck braised with cherry reduction
• Blue cheese with a touch of honey
The XO functions not simply as dessert, but as an elegant digestif; contemplative, resonant, and understated.
Taken together, the Feline VSOP and the XO trace the emotional arc of the season. The VSOP offers welcome and conviviality. The XO invites reflection and closure. Both honour Meukow’s history while framing the holidays with restraint, depth, and continuity, qualities that feel especially right at this time of year.