Metaxa 12 Star 700ML

Metaxa 12 Star is a highly complex, ultra-smooth flagship expression that stands as the definitive benchmark for the "Original Greek Spirit." Founded in Athens in 1888 by visionary Spyros Metaxa, the brand created an entirely standalone category of dark spirit.

While frequently compared to French Cognac or traditional grape brandy, Metaxa is actually a unique, proprietary hybrid. Metaxa Master Constantinos Raptis (only the fifth master blender in the company’s history) creates the 12 Star by first double-distilling a blend of three Greek white wine grape varieties (Savatiano, Sultana, and Black Corinth) in traditional copper pot stills. This distillate is then aged for a minimum of 12 years in medium-to-heavily toasted French Limousin oak casks. The real magic happens next: the aged brandy is masterfully blended with luscious, aged Muscat wines from the sun-drenched Aegean island of Samos and an infusion of secret Mediterranean botanicals and hand-picked rose petals.

Quick Product Specs

• Size: 700ML Standard European Bottle Style

• ABV/Proof: 40% (80 Proof)

• Spirit Type: Aged Greek Dark Spirit (Brandy-Muscat-Botanical Hybrid)

• Age Statement: The youngest wine distillate in the blend is aged for at least 12 Years

• The Structural Spine: Twice-distilled grape brandy married with Samos Muscat wine and botanical extracts

• Origin: Athens, Greece (Produced in Kifissia)

Tasting Notes: Flavor and Aroma Profile

Thanks to the addition of aromatic Muscat wine and hand-steeped botanicals, Metaxa 12 Star completely trades the dry, aggressively woody bite of traditional brandy for a velvety, sun-drenched Mediterranean perfume.

• Aroma (Nose): Radiant, elegant, and highly complex. The bouquet opens with strong top notes of dried figs, sweet prunes, and orange peel, beautifully supported by rich secondary layers of dark honey, roasted coffee beans, milk chocolate, and a distinct, perfumed top note of wild rose petals and violets.

• Palate (Taste): Full-bodied, satiny, and texturally rich. The entry coats the tongue with a concentrated, sweet wave of raisins, dark honey, and Turkish delight. Across the mid-palate, it shows magnificent old-world character, unrolling soft, smoky wood notes, sweet baking spices, and zesty candied orange citrus that balance out the sweetness.

• Finish: Exceptionally long, warming, and aromatic. The rich fruit sugars gracefully drop away, closing with a lingering signature of toasted oak, licorice anise, a hint of tobacco, and a soft, trailing whisper of floral rose water.

How to Drink and Serve Metaxa 12 Star

Because this spirit incorporates a delicate weave of wine sugars and fragrant floral oils, treating it with the same respect you'd show a premium single-malt Scotch or XO Cognac yields the absolute best results.

• The Sophisticated Neat Pour (The Best Serve): Pour 1.5 oz of Metaxa 12 Star into a tulip tasting glass or a Glencairn at room temperature. Let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. The air unlocks the compact Limousin oak tannins, allowing the dark coffee, chocolate, and rose petal aromatics to explode directly toward your nose.

• With a Single Large Cube: If you want a refreshing slow-sipper, drop a single large ice sphere into a heavy rocks glass. The slight chill tames the 40% alcohol defensive wall, muting the baking spice edge and putting the juicy Samos Muscat grape flavors on full display.

• The Athenian Sidecar: Upgrade the legendary cocktail by swapping out Cognac. Shake 2 oz of Metaxa 12 Star, 0.75 oz of premium orange liqueur (like Cointreau), and 0.75 oz of fresh lemon juice with hard ice. Strain into a coupe glass for an intensely aromatic, citrus-forward masterpiece.

Best Food Pairings

Metaxa 12 Star’s unique interplay of rich stone fruit sugars, smoky oak tannins, and perfumed botanicals makes it a spectacular partner for rich Greek desserts, savory fats, and charcuterie.

• Traditional Greek Sweets: A flawless, legendary match for honey-drenched walnut baklava, galaktoboureko, or simple dark chocolate-covered figs. The spirit's baking spices echo the dessert profiles perfectly.

• Rich Chocolates: Pair a small glass next to a plate of high-percentage dark chocolate truffles, which beautifully complement the spirit's native cocoa and roasted coffee tasting notes.

• Salty & Aged Cheeses: The natural honeyed sweetness creates a world-class structural contrast when served next to sharp, hard cheeses like Greek Graviera, Aged Manchego, or Pecorino Romano.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is Metaxa not legally classified as a Brandy or Cognac?

When Metaxa was first invented in 1888, it was frequently called a cognac because strict global naming laws did not yet exist. However, true brandy and cognac must be made exclusively from distilled grape wine. Because Metaxa blends its grape distillates with actual Muscat wine and a botanical botanical maceration (including rose petals), it violates the strict legal definition of pure brandy. Instead of changing his award-winning family recipe to fit a legal box, Spyros Metaxa chose to proudly drop the brandy label entirely—leaving Metaxa as a standalone dark spirit in a class of its own.

Is Metaxa 12 Star sweet?

It balances sweet and dry elements masterfully. It features a perceptibly sweeter, softer, and fruitier mouthfeel than a standard whiskey or cognac due to the natural sugars of the Samos Muscat wine. However, because it has spent 12 years sleeping inside charred French Limousin oak barrels, those wood oak tannins and the 40% ABV spine ensure the finish dries down cleanly, preventing it from tasting like a syrupy liqueur.

What do the "Stars" mean?

The star rating on a bottle of Metaxa indicates the chronological age of the youngest wine distillates used within that specific blend. For example, Metaxa 5 Star has been aged for a minimum of 5 years, and 7 Star for 7 years. This 12 Star represents the pinnacle of their core everyday range, offering a significantly heavier, darker, and more wood-matured experience than its younger siblings.

If you are expanding a high-end home bar cart or planning a Mediterranean-themed dinner party, I can pull together a quick comparison table matching Metaxa 12 Star against other unique European dark spirits (such as a classic French VSOP Cognac or a Spanish Brandy de Jerez) to look over their differences in body and sweetness. Do you want me to do that?