Metaxa

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About Metaxa
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Metaxa (Greek Μεταξά) is a Greek liqueur invented by Spyros Metaxa in 1888.

Metaxa is a blend of brandy and wine. It is made from sun-dried Sabbatiano, Soultanina and Black Corinthian grape varieties. It is then blended with an aged Muscat wine from Samos and Lemnos. The distilliates are aged in hand-made French Limousin oak casks for a minimum period of three years before being flavoured with a secret herbal mixture, that includes rose leaves, and distilled water. This mixture is allowed to "marry" for at least six months, then chilled at -6 °C for 48 hours, filtered, before being bottled.

It was first sold in the United States in 1900 and is popular in many countries today. Metaxa is generally available in three versions: Three Star (at least three years old), Five Star Classic (at least five years old), and Seven Star (at least seven years old). A much rarer version is the Private Reserve (at least twenty years old). Additional varieties and collectors items, such as the Grand Olympian Reserve Celebration Edition, are available only in some regions. It can be served neat, on the rocks, or mixed (usually with sours).