Metaxa is a Greek spirit created in 1888 by Spyros Metaxa, made by blending brandy distilled from wine grapes with aged wine and a proprietary mix of Mediterranean botanicals, then aging the blend in oak. It is produced mainly in the Attica region of Greece, from grape varieties including Savatiano and Black Corinth, and is often marketed as a brandy, though its wine and botanical additions set it apart from a straight grape brandy.
Metaxa develops notes of honey, dried fruit, and spice from its oak aging. In the kitchen it flavors Greek dishes such as moussaka and meat stews, and it is also drunk on its own or mixed into cocktails, pairing well with citrus, Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and thyme, cheese, and dried fruit.