Metaxa Very Old 40% alc by vol with OC 'old release'

Metaxa Grand Olympian Reserve "Very Old" (40% alc.)

The Metaxa Grand Olympian Reserveis a historic and limited edition bottling from Greece's best-known spirits producer. The term "Very Old" in the user's title and the research results indicate a bottle from a special era that differs significantly from today's standard products.

1. Classification and historical context

The "Grand Olympian Reserve" discussed here is not to be confused with today's Metaxa levels (such as 5 stars, 7 stars or 12 stars). It is a limited anniversary edition that was launched on the market in the 1980s . According to several sources, this bottling was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Metaxa (1888-1988). It is therefore a collector's item that honours the company's long tradition.

The bottles from this period are often filled in ceramic decanters or special porcelain bottles, which sets them apart visually from the standard glass bottles .

2. Metaxa production process

To understand the speciality of this bottling, it is helpful to take a look at the general production of Metaxa:

• Basis: metaxa is not a pure brandy, but a unique product. It is based on a distillate made from three grape varieties: Savatiano, Sultanina and Black Corinth (Korinthiaki) .

• Distillation and ageing: The grape distillates are distilled twice and then aged for at least three years in Limousin oak barrels .

• The secret: nutmeg and herbs: What makes Metaxa special is the addition of nutmeg wine from the islands of Samos or Lemnos and a secret blend of flower petals (such as rose) and Mediterranean herbs . This blend gives the drink its characteristic smoothness and complexity.

• Finishing: Before bottling, the blend is "married" again in oak barrels and then subjected to cold filtration .

3. The speciality of the "Grand Olympian Reserve"

The "Grand Olympian Reserve" occupies a special position in this product range:

• Age and maturity:while the standard variants are named after the star number (3, 5, 7, 12 years), the Grand Olympian Reserve is often associated with a maturation of at least 15 years or even 40 years . One auction site explicitly refers to it as "40 Year Old Grape Brandy" . The term "Very Old" in the user title is therefore fully applicable here.

• Recipe: An important difference to the younger bottlings is that the Grand Olympian Reserve does not contain any muscat wine . This makes it a purer, more distillate-emphasised experience and emphasises its exclusivity. One collector commented that this "Olympian Reserve is much milder and more homogenous" than today's bottlings and regretted that it was only a one-off edition .

• Presentation: As mentioned, this reserve was often presented in fine ceramic bottles, which adds to its collector's value .

4. Summary

The Metaxa Grand Olympian Reserve "Very Old" is more than just a Greek brandy. It is a historic collector's item that was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company in the 1980s. With a maturation of up to 40 years and a special recipe without muscat wine, it offers a uniquely mild and homogeneous flavour profile that sets it apart from today's standard bottlings . Bottled in characteristic ceramic decanters, this bottle is a coveted object for connoisseurs and collectors that embodies the craftsmanship and history of Greece's most famous spirit .

Sources

The information in this report is based on product descriptions from spirits merchants, auction data and an entry in the Encyclopædia Britannica and Wikipedia.