Metaxa 7 Stars

Nose: Brandy, orange preserve, violet and rose petals. A slight tobacco note after it has rested in the glass for a while. Palate: Sweet grape juice arrival that opens onto a raisin development with a little white pepper. The texture starts off full and rounded but seems to lose body as it develops and veers very slightly towards sourness. Finish: Medium. Spiced dried fruits with a mildly peppery, tannic aftertaste that finally turns sweet again at the very end. It’s been many years since I last tasted Metaxa. A few months back Mrs Cascode and I were exploring a Greek market in Sydney looking for masticha when I spied this on the shelf and decided it was high time I tried it again. Metaxa is actually very easy to find in Australia, almost every bottle shop will have it, but it’s something I always reach past. It’s not as interesting as I remembered, but neither is it unpleasant. It just seems a bit underwhelming nowadays and there are definitely two disparate things going on in it. There is an unmistakable brandy component but it’s not what I’d call a great example of the spirit. It reminds me of Hardy's Black Bottle, an Australian hospital-grade brandy that sells for about US$20. This is paired with a rosy-tinged, dusky fortified wine that lends sweetness but strangely not much body. It may be the low proof or perhaps I just prefer the heft of undiluted muscat, port or sherry nowadays. These two elements seem oddly not integrated, although balanced. It’s worth trying a glass, but I think we’ll use the rest for cooking and I seriously doubt I’d buy another bottle. It's just not that special. “Average” : 78/100 (2.75 stars)

Review #20 - Brandy / Cognac #3 Nose - floral, fruity (orange, apricots), quite prominent aromas overall and quite a nice nose. Palate - sweet, with honey, very floral, very fruity, orange marmelade, with an oily texture Finish - some dry oak, medium length (maybe medium-long), with a surprisingly rich mouthfeel. It is very smooth as well. This is much better than I remember, so I am wondering if due to the oxidation (not much brandy left in the bottle) the taste mellowed out and the flavours became more prominent. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

A rich, Brandy by Metaxa Distillery in Greece crafted with a blend of brandy & wine, featuring Savatiano, Black Corinth & Sultana grape varieties, plus Muscat wine from the islands of Samos, Lemnos, a secret blend of Mediterranean herb and floral extracts; aged in both medium & heavy toasted French Limousin oak barrels. It has an aromatic birth with notes of fruit, wood, flowers, nuts, herbs & spices; while a rich life adds notes of ripe peaches, prunes, black raisins & orange zest; that led to a candied death of medium length with notes of vanilla, cinnamon & coffee.

Sweet immediately, sugar coated prune, caramel, blackberries, slight woodiness and hints of brown sugar. there is also a noticable herbal flavor that shows up later on the finish, which is a vanilla/green/clove flavor. The finish is remarkably short and smooth. this is a definitely a sweet and rich spirit, and a unique style of brandy. It does go well with tonic water as one of the reviewers below stated.

I am just discovering the brandies and Metaxa is the best to start with. A realy pleasure and surprise when the complex creamy mixture of herbs and fruits is reaching the taste buds for the first time. The next sips are only to confirm the first contact. For me it was love at the first try. I appreciate that the price under 30 euros/1000ml is a bargain comparing to the quality of the brandy.

A nice brandy distilled from moschato wine from Greece. Dried apricot, followed by raisins and figs, honey and caramel are the dominant tasting notes. Medium body, medium length, slightly sweet straight for my liking. It blends incredibly well with tonic water though making it a far more delightful experience for my taste.