Among the rich variety of alcoholic beverages, one direction can be distinguished, which causes a lot of controversy and surprised exclamations. This is brandy, whose homeland is sunny Greece. But many connoisseurs still cannot say with certainty that it is brandy or cognac. Yes, we are talking about Metax, a unique strong alcoholic drink that has found its fans around the world.
Brandy: what is it?
What is brandy - a simple question, after which silence hangs. 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 number of strong alcoholic drinks prepared using one common technology, which uses grape alcohol distillate, juice, squeezes or fermentation products of juice of berries and fruits. This name can not be attributed to a specific drink, because brandy is, rather, a technological recipe for manufacturing.
Metaxa
Metaxa is an alcoholic beverage made using brandy technology. The birthplace of manufacture is Greece. The drink has a dark golden color, its strength is 38%. "Metaxa" conveys the aroma of dried fruits and nutmeg, the finish has notes of oak.
Today, this drink is the hallmark of Greece and takes pride of place in the heart of everyone who at least once tasted it.
"Metaxa" is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world and refers to brandy according to the international classification of alcohol. Moreover, it is often compared with cognac, as the manufacturing process is similar to brandy technology. But Metaxa is considered to be a unique, unlike anything alcoholic drink that has no analogues in the whole world. For this reason, it is very difficult to equate it to any group of alcohol.
The composition includes herbal infusion, which gives the drink a special taste, even unique. He deserves attention also because his history on the world market is quite short, in comparison with other alcohol products. Only at the end of the nineteenth century, Metaxa was able to get out of 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 the ancient Greek coin, the release 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 can be seen today, Spyros Metaxas was not mistaken.
From the first days of the plant, the Greek brandy Metaxa was presented to the Greek, Serbian, Russian and Ethiopian royal courts. People of noble birth appreciated the drink, inviting the founder to become the main supplier of alcoholic drinks to the court. Since that time, Metaxa has been called "Greek silk" in Europe. Interestingly, from Greek, “metaxi” translates as silk.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, manufacturers of the Metaxa brand have begun deliveries to the United States. In the late 60s of the last century, production facilities were moved to Athens, where they are located to the present. In the late 80s, the Metaxa brand fell under the influence of Remy Cointreau.
Manufacture
The exact Metaxa recipe is a mystery, but the manufacturing process is known for certain. Brandy is made from wine material from three regions: Corinth, Crete, Attica. Wine alcohol is distilled twice and aged in an oak barrel for 3 to 15 years. The elite brand of Metaxa brandy can be aged 80 years.
The resulting brandy is mixed with nutmeg wine from the islands of Samos and Lemos, which is aged for 1 year. Then a secret mixture of aromatic herbs and rose petals are added to the composition. The final stage consists in aging Metaxa in oak barrels at a temperature of no more than -6 degrees Celsius for 6 months. Then the drink is filtered, bottled and goes on sale.
What is the difference between brandy and cognac?
There is an opinion that brandy and brandy are one and the same drink. Such a statement is partly true, and partly a delusion. The fact is that the difference between brandy and brandy exists, and considerable. Cognac is a special type of alcoholic beverage produced using brandy technology, but using 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% of the fortress. This category also includes cognac. Metaxa is produced using brandy technology, which means it can be attributed to brandy. But at the same time, a special prescription composition separates it from this type of alcohol. Therefore, asking the question, what is “Metaxa” - is it cognac or brandy, you can safely answer that it is “Metaxa”.
Kinds
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.
- "Metaxa" 3 stars is a brandy with a strength of 38%, aged in oak barrels. It is the most inexpensive, but still delicious drink.
- Brandy Metaxa 5 stars. It is produced in a fortress of 40% from 5-year-old wine spirits. Unique additives of aromatic herbs and rose petals give an unforgettable aroma and a memorable taste.
- Brandy Metaxa 7 stars. The variety is called "Amphora" due to the fact that it is bottled in sophisticated bottles resembling 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 tint gives the drink a nobility.
- “Metaxa” 12 stars is a brandy of 40% strength, which has been insisted for 12 years in oak barrels.
- Grade "Metaxa" Grand Fin - an elite brandy with a aging period of 15 years. Packing takes place in bottles of porcelain or ceramics.
- Metax Private Reserve has been infused for 20-30 years. Despite the strength of 40%, it has a mild taste and a rich aroma of honey, nuts, spices and oak. It is sold only in Greece.
- "Metaxa" AEN - an exclusive drink that has no analogues. The aging time in an oak barrel can reach 80 years. In each brandy barrel, regardless of 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?
At home in Greece, “Metaxa” is treated with special love, relish this drink, drink long and long. A lot of admirers of such brandy have gathered around the world, which means that several ways of using it have appeared.
The first method is pure use. Brandy is served with body temperature, poured into glasses under 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 sips, heat waves begin to spread throughout the body, with each subsequent it intensifies. You can add a couple of ice cubes to the glass, but then the aroma of the drink will lose its brightness. It is recommended to add ice to the Metaxa 5 * brandy. Reviews from connoisseurs of this drink contain recommendations according to which it is not recommended to add ice to brandy with an aging of more than 5 years, this will only worsen its taste.
It is customary to serve light snacks in the form of citrus fruits, grapes, canapes with caviar, milk chocolate, lettuce, cheeses and baked meat.
Brandy with a short exposure time can also be slightly diluted with citrus juice or tonic in a ratio of 1: 1. 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" today is often used as a base for various cocktails.
Cocktails: recipes
If there was a desire to disperse the blood, having received a ray of sunshine, then Metaxa-based cocktails are the best solution.
"Mojito in Greek"
It is based on the Greek Metaxa, replacing Cuban rum, but the basic composition has not changed. It includes:
- mint (a few leaves);
- sugar - 20 grams;
- lime - 1 pc.;
- Metaxa - 50 ml;
- soda - 1 cup;
- ice.
Metaxa Sauer
This is a cocktail from Spyros Metaxas himself:
- orange and lemon juice in half (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 of up to 300 ml, add soda to the brim.
"Alexandra"
The cocktail "Alexandra" was created in honor of Queen Alexandra, who ruled England in the early 20th century.
- Metaxa - 30 ml;
- chocolate liquor - 30 ml;
- Beilis - 30 ml.
Mix in a shaker and serve in a glass.
Total
In conclusion, I would like to add that everyone who has not tried the Metaxa chic alcoholic drink should do it. Indeed, it is not for nothing that millions of connoisseurs of unique tastes prefer the Metaxa brandy. The reviews of those who at least once tasted this divine nectar suggest that brandy should go to the ends of the world. But in the modern world there is nothing impossible, and you can go traveling to taste the Metax brandy even tomorrow. Or you can just buy it in a store or order it online.