Metaxa, 5 Stars, The Original Greek Spirit, 70cl, Pack of 1

Product Information

Metaxa sources its wine from vineyards in the center of the 11.3-mile-wide island. The vineyards are typically located on mountainous ledges that receive good sun and wind exposure. Generally speaking, the older Metaxa expressions show more dark, dried fruit elements and a more significant spiciness and pepperiness. Younger expressions are more floral, with more noticeable rose petal aromas and fruit notes that lean more toward stone fruit, like apricot and peach, and less toward dark dried fruits.

A quantity of wine is blended with the aged distillate and casked at a 50% ABV for three to four additional years in Limousin oak casks. However, one of the known ingredients is rose water made from the May rose. Also known as Provence rose, it is a very aromatic hybrid rose developed by Dutch breeders sometime after the 17th century. May rose is also a component of Chanel No. 5 perfume. In addition to her role as a DelightedCooking editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interestingThere’s a hint of violets in there too, probably a spin-off from the roses. Perhaps figs as well, another sweetness, and a hint of dark coffee richness. It’s certainly an interesting aroma and not quite like anything else while resembling both brandy and whisky.

On the nose, it’s very floral, with distinctive notes of rose petals, lemon blossom, and jasmine. There are additional notes of candied orange, assorted wood spices, and vanilla. On the nose, it has more spice, particularly cinnamon, and less stone fruit. There are more pronounced dark, dried fruit notes of raisin, fig, and prune; dark chocolate, and the classic rancio aromas of cigar box and new leather. On the nose it’s like a brandy, but a brandy with a subtle difference. There’s a floral sweetness in there but it’s a really rich floral sweetness, not the subtler notes you might get with a Scotch or a brandy. That’s because Metaxa also has botanicals in it, including rose petals. Metaxa 12-Star is the most mature of the regular range of Metaxa Greek spirits, and there’s a push on to familiarize American palates with this classic Greek drink, or the Original Greek Spirit. The rose petals are gathered from bushes grown at an altitude of around 2,500 feet. They are macerated in a solution of water and alcohol for up to one year. All the ingredients in the herbal elixir are macerated separately and then combined. The mixture is unaged. A small quantity of the herbal elixir is blended with the aged mix of spirit and wine.Metaxa is made using aged wine distillates, Muscat wines and botanicals sourced from the Mediterranean. Metaxa is a stylish product. It comes in a solid dark blue box and the bottle inside is equally handsome, with a matching blue top and gold lettering for the label. With the deep brown spirit inside, it certainly looks classy and very tempting. Out of curiosity I tried it simply with a splash of soda, as I had a bottle of soda open in the fridge, and it worked really well. The Metaxa Master did say this was a versatile spirit, and he’s absolutely right. (Well, of course he is, that’s why he’s only the 5th Metaxa Master since the company was founded in 1888!) Metaxa is a Greek brandy that has been around for over a century (founded in 1888, to be precise). It's made from a blend of different wines, and it has a distinctively smooth and sweet taste. Metaxa is generally held to be fruity, sweet (with honey notes) and floral. I was drinking Metaxa years before I started writing about drink, and never thought I’d find myself reviewing it. So I have a predisposition to like the drink, but I can also now appreciate it more because I can put it into context, with cognacs and brandies and whiskies. To me it tastes like a very fine brandy, but a little more floral. It’s safe to say that if you’ve never tried Metaxa, this new 12-Star will be the perfect introduction. It really is in a class of its own. More Information

Metaxa is a distilled spirit made in Greece from brandy and wine from sun-dried grapes, blended with Muscat wine.

The Metaxa 12 Star is richer on the palate and offers more layered complexity. The Muscat wine that goes into the blend is more concentrated and oxidized and is made with grapes grown at higher altitudes.

The Seven Star expression is very similar to the Five Star. It’s more concentrated and a bit less floral on the nose. The rose petal notes, in particular, are less distinct. Overall, it’s more brandy-like than its younger sibling.I never cared much for the taste of it myself so I've come up with my own Metaxa drink by adding sugar syrup, water and lemon in a tall glass of ice with mint leaves. It's very cool and refreshing. Metaxa 12 Stars is a smooth, premium Greek brandy that is perfect for sipping on its own or enjoying with friends. It has a rich, complex flavour that makes it perfect for after-dinner drinks or enjoyed neat. Peel lemon for garnish (refer to Questions below if you want directions on how to peel lemon garnish). Squeeze 2 oz of fresh lemon juice. We referenced bon appetit to learn how to make a lemon peel garnish here. WHAT TYPE OF METAXA SHOULD I USE? It was developed by Metaxa Master Costas Raptis in 1992 and was based on specific selections of butts that showed exceptional flavor and complexity.