Creating a small family business for the production of Metaxas, Spyros Metaxas did not even imagine that after a few decades the alcohol he invented would become the hallmark of Greece and enter the top 100 most famous alcoholic beverages in the world. Now it is supplied to more than 120 countries. We will consider the features, history and culture of using Metaxa.
Metaxa (Greek Μεταξά) is a dark golden Greek alcoholic drink with a strength of 38%, obtained by mixing aged grape brandy with sweet nutmeg wine and herbal infusion, the secret of which is kept secret by the manufacturer. Metaxa has an aroma of dried fruits and nutmeg. On the palate there are notes of oak and vanilla.
Many consider Metaxa to be cognac or brandy, but in reality it is a unique drink that has no analogues in the world, so it is difficult to attribute it to any group of alcohol.
Metaxa is made from double distilled spirit of wine. Used wine material from three regions: Corinth, Crete and Attica. After distillation, alcohol is aged in oak barrels for 3-15 years (elite types of Metaxa can be aged up to 80 years).
Next, the resulting brandy is mixed with Muscat wine aged 12 months, produced on the islands of Samos and Lemnos. Then add the original herbal infusion and rose petals. At the final stage, the finished Metaxa is aged in oak barrels at -6°C for at least 6 months. After filtering and bottling, the drink goes on sale.
The production of Metaxa began in 1888 in the city of Piraeus. The creator of the drink is the Greek winemaker Spyros Metaxas. As an emblem, he chose an ancient Greek coin dedicated to the victory of the Greeks over the Persians in a naval battle near the city of Salamis. This coin was found during earthworks during the construction of the plant.
Almost immediately after the start of production, Metaxa was presented to the royal houses of Greece, Serbia, Russia and Ethiopia. Noble persons highly appreciated the new alcohol, making the company of Spyros Metaxas their official supplier. Since then, Metaxa has been called “Greek silk” in Europe. The word “metaksi” is translated from Greek as “silk”.
Since 1900, Metaxa has been exported to the USA, where, due to its original light taste, it was called “flying brandy”. In 1968, the plant was moved to Athens, where it is still located. In 1989, the Metaxa trademark was bought by Remy Cointreau.
Types of Metaxa
This brandy is classified only by the period of aging alcohol in oak barrels. The classification itself is very similar to the labeling of domestic cognacs.
- Metaxa 3 stars – at least 3 years of exposure;
- Metaxa 5 stars – at least 5 years of exposure;
- Metaxa 7 stars – at least 7 years of exposure;
- Metaxa Grand Olympian Reserve – 12 years old;
- Metaxa Grand Fine – sold in a ceramic jug, aged from 8 to 15 years;
- Metaxa Private Reserve – comes in a crystal decanter, aged from 20 to 30 years;
- Metaxa AEN is a brandy aged from 30 to 80 years.
Ways to drink Metaxa correctly
1. In its purest form. Metaxa is drunk at room temperature in small sips from liquor glasses. It is this method that allows you to fully enjoy the taste and aroma of the drink. Already after the first sip, pleasant warmth spreads throughout the body, with each subsequent sip it intensifies. Some connoisseurs prefer to drink Metaxa with ice, but then the aroma is lost. I recommend adding ice only to Metaxa of low aging (3-5 years).
As an appetizer for Metaxa, you can serve citrus fruits (lemons, oranges), grapes, caviar sandwiches, milk chocolate, fresh lettuce, cheeses, and even baked meat.
2. With other drinks. To reduce the strength, Metaxa is diluted with tonic and citrus juices in a 1: 1 ratio. This brandy is also added to tea and coffee. In Greece, Metaxa tea is considered medicinal. Metaxa is not diluted with alcoholic drinks and mineral water.
3. As part of cocktails. The bartenders have created several original recipes that have spread all over the world.
Cocktails with Metaxa
1. Greek Mojito. Unlike the classic Mojito recipe, in this version the Cuban rum is replaced by Metaxa, other ingredients do not change.
Composition:
- mint – 3-4 leaves;
- sugar – 2 teaspoons;
- lime – 1 piece;
- Metaxa – 50 ml;
- soda (sprite) – 80-100 ml;
- ice cubes.
Preparation: add mint and sugar to a tall glass, then squeeze the juice of one lime into the same place and mix well. Pour Metaxa, add a few ice cubes. Fill the remaining space in the glass with soda or sprite.
2. Metaxa sour (Metaxa Sour). The recipe for this cocktail was invented by Spyros Metaxas himself.
Composition:
- orange juice – 30 ml;
- lemon juice – 20 ml;
- Metaxa – 50 ml;
- soda – 100 ml;
- ice cubes.
Preparation: fill the shaker halfway with ice, add juices and Metaxa. Mix for at least 60 seconds. Pour the mixture into a tall glass with a volume of 230-300 ml, fill the remaining space with soda.
3. Alexandra. The cocktail was created in honor of the English Queen Alexandra of Denmark, who ruled the British Empire in 1902-1910.
Composition:
- Metaxa brandy – 30 ml;
- chocolate liqueur – 30 ml;
- cream (Baileys liqueur) – 30 ml.
Preparation: mix all the ingredients in a shaker, pour the resulting mixture into a glass. Serve without ice.
4. Metaxa with tea. Despite the name, this is a refreshing cocktail.
Composition:
- orange juice – 50 ml;
- lemon syrup – 20 ml;
- Metaxa – 25 ml;
- cold black tea – 60 ml;
- ice.
Preparation: Fill a glass with ice, add orange juice, lemon syrup and Metaxa. Then pour strong cold tea into a glass. Drink through a straw.