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)

Strong rose petals .

Floral, dried fruits, toffee, medium sweet, smooth alcohol

Beautiful brandy. Nose of tobacco and lemon custard. Smooth, vanilla-like mouthfeel, orangy notes and a bucket full of dried fruits and raisins. Loads of flavour in the aftertaste, with dark raisins, sultana and lemon cake. Long lasting taste. Very good. Probably one of my favourite drinks of all time.