Greek brandy "Metaxa": history and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Among the rich variety of alcoholic beverages, one direction can be distinguished, which causes a lot of controversy and surprised exclamations. This brandy, whose homeland is sunny Greece. But many connoisseurs still cannot say with accuracy that it is brandy or cognac. Yes, we are talking about "Metax" - a unique strong alcoholic drink that has found its admirers all over the world.

Brandy: what is it?

What is brandy - a simple question followed by silence. After all, most do not know what kind of drink it is, there is only confidence that it is similar to cognac and definitely alcoholic.

Brandy is the common name for a range of strong alcoholic beverages prepared according to one common technology, which uses grape spirit distillate, juice, extracts or fermentation products of berry and fruit juices. It is impossible to attribute this name to a specific drink, because brandy is rather a technological recipe for manufacturing.

Metaxa

"Metaxa" is an alcoholic drink made using brandy technology. Made in Greece. The drink has a dark golden color.color, its strength is 38%. "Metaxa" conveys the aroma of dried fruits and nutmeg, the aftertaste has notes of oak.

Today this drink is the hallmark of Greece and takes pride of place in the heart of everyone who has tasted it at least once.

"Metaxa" is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages worldwide and belongs to brandy according to the international alcohol classification. At the same time, it is often compared with cognac, since the manufacturing process is similar to brandy technology. But "Metaxa" is rightfully considered a unique, unlike anything alcoholic drink, which has no analogues in the whole world. For this reason, it is very difficult to equate it with any group of alcohol.

The composition includes herbal infusion, which gives the drink a special taste, even unique. It also deserves attention by the fact that its history on the world market is rather short compared to other alcoholic products. Only at the end of the nineteenth century, Metaxa was able to emerge from the shadow of its homeland (Greece), enter the world market and conquer it.

Drink history

Back in 1888, in the city of Piraeus, the Greek winemaker Spyros Metaxas launched the production of his own brandy and gave him his last name. The emblem of brandy was an ancient Greek coin, the issue of which was dedicated to the great victory of the Greeks over the Persians in the battle at sea near the city of Salamis. The coin was found during the construction of the plant, so this sign seemed significant to the winemaker. As seen today, SpyrosMetaxas was right.

From the first days of the plant's operation, the Greek brandy "Metaxa" was presented to the Greek, Serbian, Russian and Ethiopian royal courts. Persons of noble families appreciated the drink, offering the founder to become the main supplier of alcoholic beverages to the court. Since that time, "Metax" in Europe is called "Greek silk". Interestingly, from the Greek "metaksi" is translated as silk.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, manufacturers of the Metaxa brand have begun deliveries to the United States. At the end of the 60s of the last century, the production facilities were moved to Athens, where they are located to this day. In the late 80s, the Metaxa trademark came under the influence of Remy Cointreau.

Production

The exact recipe for "Metaxa" is a mystery, but the manufacturing process is known for certain. Brandy is made from the wine material of three regions: Corinth, Crete, Attica. Wine alcohol is distilled twice and aged in oak barrels from 3 to 15 years. The elite Metaxa brandy can be aged for 80 years.

The resulting brandy is mixed with Muscat wine from the islands of Samos and Lemos, aged for 1 year. Then a secret mixture of fragrant herbs and rose petals are added to the composition. The final stage consists in aging "Metaxa" in oak barrels at a temperature not exceeding -6 degrees Celsius for 6 months. The drink is then filtered, bottled and sold.

What is the difference betweenbrandy and cognac?

There is an opinion that cognac and brandy are one and the same drink. This statement is partly true and partly false. The fact is that the difference between cognac and brandy exists, and considerable. Cognac is a special type of alcoholic drink produced using brandy technology, but according to a completely different recipe.

Brandy is, in fact, not a drink as such, but a technological process for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the range from 40% to 60% strength. This category also includes cognac. "Metaxa" is produced using brandy technology, which means that it can be attributed to brandy. But at the same time, a special prescription composition separates it from this type of alcohol. Therefore, when asking the question, what is Metaxa - is it cognac or brandy, you can safely answer that it is Metaxa.

Views

Today the Greek brandy "Metaxa" is sold in any country. There are several types of light and at the same time strong drink, which depend on its age, that is, aging under certain conditions in oak barrels.

1. "Metaxa" 3 stars is a brandy with a strength of 38%, aged in oak barrels. It is the most inexpensive yet delicious drink.
2. Brandy "Metaxa" 5 stars. Produced with a strength of 40% from 5-year-old wine spirits. Unique additions of aromatic herbs and rose petals give an unforgettable aroma and memorable taste.
3. Brandy "Metaxa" 7 stars. The variety is called "Amphora" due to the fact thatwhich is poured into sophisticated bottles, reminiscent of a Greek amphora. The drink is aged for 7 years, has a 40% strength, has a rich taste and aroma of dried fruits, vanilla and oak. Golden-brown hue gives the drink a nobility.
4. "Metaxa" 12 stars is a 40% strength brandy that has been aged for 12 years in oak barrels.
5. Metaxa Grand Fin is an elite brandy aged 15 years. Packing takes place in porcelain or ceramic bottles.
6. Metaxa Private Reserve has been infused for 20-30 years. Despite the strength of 40%, it has a mild taste and rich aroma of honey, nuts, spices and oak. Available only in Greece.
7. "Metaxa" AEN is an exclusive drink that has no analogues. The aging time in oak barrels can reach 80 years. In each barrel of brandy, regardless of the variety, there is a couple of drops of "Metax" AEN. It has a unique taste and aroma of coffee, honey, almonds, herbs and spices.

How to drink?

In their homeland in Greece, Metaxa is treated with special love, this drink is savored, drunk long and drawn out. A lot of admirers of this brandy have gathered all over the world, which means that there are several ways to use it.

The first way is pure consumption. Brandy is served at body temperature, poured into glasses with liquor and drunk in small sips. It is in this way that you can fully enjoy the taste of the drink and feel the whole bouquet and aroma of brandy. From the first sipswaves of heat begin to spread throughout the body, with each subsequent one it intensifies. You can add a couple of ice cubes to a glass, but then the aroma of the drink will lose its brightness. It is recommended to add ice to Metaxa 5 brandy. Reviews from connoisseurs of this drink contain recommendations according to which it is not recommended to add ice to brandy aged for more than 5 years, this will only worsen its taste.

Metaxa is usually served with light snacks in the form of citrus fruits, grapes, canapes with caviar, milk chocolate, lettuce, cheeses and baked meat.

Short aged brandy can also be slightly diluted with citrus juice or tonic in a 1:1 ratio. This is done, as a rule, to reduce the strength of the drink. "Metaxa" is added to hot tea, coffee. At the same time, tea with this drink in Greece is considered medicinal, it is taken for colds.

Bartenders also could not stay away from this divine drink. Metaxa is quite often used today as a base for various cocktails.

Cocktails: recipes

If there is a desire to disperse the blood by getting a ray of sunshine, then Metaxa-based cocktails are the best solution.

Greek Mojito

It is based on the Greek "Metaxa", replacing the Cuban rum, and the main composition has not changed. Includes:

• mint (a few leaves);
• sugar - 20 grams;
• lime - 1piece;
• "Metaxa" - 50 ml;
• soda water - 1 glass;
• ice.

Metaxa Sour

This is a cocktail from Spyros Metaxas himself:

• orange and lemon juice halved (60 ml);
• "Metaxa" - 50 ml;
• soda - 100 ml;
• ice.

In a shaker, mix juices, Metaxa and ice for a minute, pour the cocktail into a glass up to 300 ml, top up with soda to the brim.

Alexandra

The Alexandra cocktail was created in honor of Queen Alexandra, who ruled England in the early 20th century.

• "Metaxa" - 30 ml;
• chocolate liqueur - 30 ml;
• "Baileys" - 30 ml.

Mix in a shaker and serve in a glass.

Result

In conclusion, I would like to add that everyone who has not yet tried the chic alcoholic drink "Metaxa" should do it. After all, it is not for nothing that millions of connoisseurs of unique tastes prefer Metaxa brandy. Reviews of those who have tasted this divine nectar at least once say that it is worth going to the ends of the world for brandy. But in the modern world, nothing is impossible, and you can go traveling to taste Metaxa brandy even tomorrow. Or you can just buy it in a store or order it online.