Metaxa is quite simply ancient Greece in a bottle. Its beautiful colour and flavourful taste will have any spirit connoisseur call for another! The best Metaxa brandy is more than the sum of its parts, blended to perfection; this mix of brandy and wine is a masterclass of Greek spirits know-how.
The Metaxa Brandy Collection Star rating represents the minimum number of years the spirit has aged in the barrel. This heavenly spirit that is not quite a brandy or a cognac yet takes you on a journey to Greece that you will want to re-take time and time again.
What Is Metaxa?
Metaxa is a Greek amber-coloured spirit created in 1888 by Spyros Metaxa. Officially not brandy or cognac, Metaxa is a blend of Muscat wine and aged brandies (wine distillates) combined in Limousin oak casks. Mediterranean botanicals are added to the finishing process for additional aroma and taste.
What Does Metaxa Taste Like?
Metaxa tastes much like a cognac or brandy. Depending on the age of the Metaxa, it brings flavours of dried fruits, honey, caramel, dark chocolate, and oak with a smooth and flavoursome finish.
Is Metaxa A Brandy?
Metaxa was first compared to a Cognac, and then later in its history, it was re-classified as a Brandy. But the truth is, it is in a class of its own and should be considered a Greek liqueur made by blending wine, brandy and botanicals.
Best Metaxa Brandy
The Metaxa collection consists of seven unique spirits blended to perfection. We reveal the best Metaxa brandy and how to enjoy each of them.
1. Metaxa 5 Stars
Overview
- Distiller: Metaxa
- ABV: 38% (76 Proof)
- Country: Greece
- Colour: Luminous Amber
Review
Metaxa 5 Stars begins life as a double-pot stilled 5-year old brandy blend of Savatiano, Soultanina, and Black Corinth grapes. Muscat wine from the Aegean Island of Samoa and Lemnos is then added.
Fragrant botanicals of Mediterranean herbs and rose petals also make their way onto Metaxa 5 Stars. The blend is then aged for a further year in oak barrels, cold-filtered and bottled, ready to delight its new owner.
Ingredients
5-year double pot stilled brandy, aromatic Muscat wine, rose petals, and Mediterranean herbs.
Taste notes
Smooth with a floral note, vanilla, and hints of white raisins and apricot. The finish is slightly sweet and floral.
Best Served
Enjoy Metaxa 5 Stars neat, on ice, or in a cheeky Between the Sheets or Brandy Crusta cocktail.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Metaxa 7 Stars
Overview
- Distiller: Metaxa
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Greece
- Colour: Amber
Review
Metaxa 7 Stars is a pot stilled 7-year old brandy blend of Savatiano, Soultanina, and Black Corinth grapes blended with aromatic Muscat wine and fragrant botanicals.
This Amber spirit is more balanced and refined than the 5 Stars and offers fruity peach and prune flavours. The woody taste of the oak barrel lingers on the palate, complementing the sipping experience.
Ingredients
Seven-year double pots stilled brandy, aromatic Muscat wine, rose petals, and Mediterranean herbs.
Taste notes
A slight sweet honey taste with a subtle fruity flavour of apricot, red grape, and spice. Smooth toffee finish.
Best Served
Enjoy as an aperitif on the rocks or in a Brandy & Benedictine cocktail.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Metaxa 12 Stars
Overview
- Distiller: Metaxa
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Greece
- Colour: Radiant Amber
Review
The youngest spirit blended into Metaxa 12 Stars has matured for 12 years, resulting in a well-balanced Metaxa with incredible depth. As we hit the 12-year mark, you get more woody smoothness from the French oak barrels in which this Metaxa is aged.
In my opinion, this aged spirit is one to be sipped. You can enjoy a deeper Metaxa experience of dry fruits, wood, dark chocolate, and rich coffee. It would also make a great gift.
Ingredients
12-year double pots stilled brandy, aromatic Muscat wine, rose petals, and Mediterranean herbs.
Taste notes
Orange peel, coffee, dark chocolate, and oak. The finish is floral and fruity with delicate spices for added warmth.
Best Served
This is a mature Metaxa spirit with a beautiful, radiant amber glow. Best served as a slow-sipping aperitif with a single rock on in a Brandy Flip or try it in a classy Brandy Daisy.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Metaxa Grande Fine
Overview
- Distiller: Metaxa
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Greece
- Colour: Dark Amber
Review
How can we ignore the beautifully designed decanter created by Cacao Rocks, a street artist from Greece? He took his inspiration for the iconic design from his grandfather, who resided in the majestic landscapes of the Cyclades (source).
The white in the design represents Cycladic architecture, the blue for the Aegean Sea, and the bright gold for the sun. The exact amount of passion went into blending the Metaxa 12 Stars to interpret the Greek culture with this one-of-a-kind dark amber spirit.
Ingredients
8-to-15-year double pots stilled brandies, aromatic Muscat wine, rose petals, and Mediterranean herbs.
Taste notes
A full-bodied but refined Metaxa with hints of dry fruits, liquorice, oak, nutmeg, honey and white raisins. Delicious honey-pepper finish.
Best Served
The dark amber Metaxa Grande Fine Brandy is best enjoyed neat while looking out over a spectacular landscape.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Metaxa Private Reserve
Overview
- Distiller: Metaxa
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Greece
- Colour: Intense Amber
Review
Metaxa Private Reserve is the sublime personal creation from Master Blender Constantinos Rapis. This private reserve brandy is created in a single batch once a year, so don’t delay getting your hands on a bottle.
This stunning Private Reserve is blended from the finest brandies, Muscats, and botanicals that have reached their peak in both aroma and taste.
The intense amber look of the spirit is inviting, and the bottle number signifies its unique on-off blend. The Metaxa Private Reserve delivers a rewarding aftertaste mimicking the region’s dried fruits and sweet spices.
Ingredients
15-year double pots stilled brandies, aromatic Muscat wine, rose petals, and fragrant herbs.
Taste notes
An intense and voluptuous flavour with hints of caramel, black raisin, and ripe peppers. The finish is long and smooth with fruit and spice.
Best Served
Metaxa Private Reserve Brandy is best enjoyed neat or over ice. Don’t judge (and let’s hope Metaxa does not find out), but I found this works incredibly well as high-class brandy and coke. (Check out my rum & coke article too!)
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Metaxa Angels’ Treasure
Overview
- Distiller: Metaxa
- ABV: 42.2% (84.4 Proof)
- Country: Greece
- Colour: Deep Amber
Review
Metaxa Angels’ Treasure is a blend that arose from the cellars of the house of Metaxa. The Master Blender describes the blend as “what the Angels have left behind,” as he combines the last of the aged blends from the barrels.
This unique Metaxa is extra matured in oak barrels for a deeper, smoother flavour infusion packed with aromas of cinnamon, ginger, caramel and aged oak.
Ingredients
5 to 18 years double pots stilled brandies, aromatic Muscat wine, flower petals, deliciously spiced botanicals.
Taste notes
A rich and concentrated flavour with sweet spices, prune, white raisins, grape, and ripe peppers. The finish is honeyed and gently spiced.
Best Served
No doubt about it, Metaxa Grande Fine Brandy is best enjoyed neat. There is no need for ice or mixers; just a simple glass of Metaxa Angels’ Treasure served just below room temperature.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Metaxa AEN Cask No 2 – Despina
Overview
- Distiller: Metaxa
- ABV: 45.3% (90.6 Proof)
- Country: Greece
- Colour: Deep Mahogany
Review
To celebrate the house of Metaxa’s 130 year birthday, Master Blender Constantinos Raptis released 130 decanters of the most iconic and precious elixir, the AEN Cask No 2 – Despina.
This pinnacle of Metaxa excellence contains blends from the original casks first used in the original distillery in Piraeus. These casks have been under the protection of the Metaxa Master for five generations.
The flavour of the Metaxa AEN Cask No 2 Despina is a revival of the old. It brings the true heritage and flavour from the old days to a few that will appreciate this Greek spirit with abyss-like depth.
Ingredients
A Metaxa made with a blend of cask brandies aged up to 80 years, aromatic Muscat wine, and delicate botanicals.
Taste notes
A unique sensation on the palate with sweet spice, dry prune, a hint of grape syrup, and subtle oak.
Best Served
Metaxa AEN Cask No 2 is best enjoyed neat. However this is refined stuff so could easily hold its own as a fantastic brandy for a Sangria.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Ingrid’s Top Pick
Metaxa Private Reserve
My pick for the overall best Metaxa brandy is Metaxa Private Reserve. When enjoyed neat, this versatile Metaxa unleashes caramel, fruit, spices and wood. It also creates an unforgettable brandy and coke.
Conclusion
As an introduction to the best Metaxa brandy, Metaxa 5 Stars sets the bar high with its light floral and fruity notes. Ideal for sipping but leans more towards mixing.
Metaxa 7 Stars takes it up a notch with a sweeter honeyed note, and the 12 Stars offer a light hint of citrus. Still, the Grande Fine infuses all the Stars in a stunning decanter that tastes incredible and makes a gorgeous gift.
The Metaxa Private Reserve is the Master Blenders’ personal blend only made once a year, while the Metaxa Angels’ Treasure is ‘what the angels have left behind’. The final bottle in the collection is to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Metaxa with the brandies from the original casts.
As you can see, the Metaxa Brandy Collection is blended to be unique and offers a taste of Greece. No matter which Metaxa you try, you will fall in love with this amber-coloured Greek spirit!
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
