Metaxa

The Metaxa (Μεταξά) is a Greek brandy . He was invented in 1888 by a merchant named Spyros Metaxas (Σπύρος Μεταξάς). He is famous everywhere in the world for his color, his quality and his taste.

Manufactoring process

To obtain this beverage three different varieties of grapes are used (Soultanina, Savatiano, Raisin of Corinth). Once this wine obtained one distills it. One lets the distillate develop his flavors in barrels in oak of the the Limousin during one three years minimum duration. One adds to the brandy a Muscat (of Samos or Lemnos), gasoline of rose petals and a secret set of aromatic plants. Then one gives this new mixture out of barrel during one year. Before the setting out of bottle, Metaxa spends several days at a temperature lower than zero, it is filtered and, finally, is bottled.

Types of Metaxa

There exist several types of Metaxa which one distinguishes by the number of stars joined with the name Metaxa :

Metaxa 3* is Metaxa raised out of barrel of oak lasting at least three years. Its alcoholic rate is of 38%.
Metaxa 5* is Metaxa raised out of barrel of oak lasting at least five years. Its alcoholic rate is of 40%.
Metaxa 7*, also called Amphora , because of the shape of its bottle, is Metaxa raised out of barrel of oak lasting at least seven years. Its alcoholic strength is of 40%. Its color brown is gilded. It releases from the flavors of dry fruits, vanilla and oak. In mouth it is full and has a subtle wood taste. It one of Metaxa is balanced.
the Large Olympian Reserve or Metaxa 12* is Metaxa raised out of barrel of oak during a twelve years minimum. Its alcoholic strength is of 40%. The flavors of this Metaxa are the tobacco, the dry fruits, vanilla. Contrary to the other mixtures of Metaxa, Large Olympian Reserve does not contain muscatel. In mouth it is at the same time full, soft, rich and wooded.
the Private Reserve is high special Metaxa during at least twenty years out of barrel of oak. Its alcoholic rate is of 40%. It has an amber color. Its flavors are very rich: one finds at the same time honey, spices, the fruits dry, the muscatel, vanilla and the oak.
the Large fine , even rarer, is high was of oak during more than forty years. Its alcoholic strength is also of 40%. It with the characteristic to be marketed in a porcelain bottle.

Other rather exceptional bottles as those of the centenary are true objects of collection.

Spending patterns

As much of brandy, Metaxa is particularly appreciated by the smokers of cigars. In Greece, it is more easily consumed the winter than the summer. It accompanies roasted sweet chestnuts, the dry nuts and grapes. Metaxa is associated in Greek mentality with the festivities of end of the year. One can, however, consume it the summer with ice floes. In Greece, this alcohol is regarded as a cognac (what is false of course). In the songs one evokes it like koniakaki (κονιακάκι), the small cognac.

Of the ouzo, still of the ouzo and always of the ouzo, I have some more than enough! Bring to me a small cognac which makes me desire so much known as a song of minor Asia.

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