Metaxa is a Greek distilled spirit invented by Spyros Metaxas in 1888. It is a blend of brandy and wine made from sun-dried Savatiano, Sultana and Black Corinth grape varieties. It is then blended with an aged Muscat wine from the Greek islands of Samos and Lemnos. Metaxa comes in five major varieties: Three Stars, Five Stars, Seven Stars, Twelve Stars and the Grand Reserve. The number of stars represents the number of years the blend is matured.
The flavour of Metaxa is unique, but very pleasant. It has a sweetness that comes from the muscat wines. It also has some citrus notes, maybe coriander, and other botanicals. Rumour has it that rose leaves are part of the botanical mix. The finish is smooth with light herbal notes lingering on the palate.