Drinks

Metaxa

Metaxa.

While searching for drinks with Swedish Punch, we came across this preparation with Quinquina and tequila.

40 ml Cap Corse Blanc
20 ml Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Platino Tequila
15 ml Revolte Swedish Punch

Preparation: Stirred.

Alternatively and currently preferred by us:

40 ml Homemade ‘Lillet’ (3 parts Mouton Cadet Sauternes Réserve AOC : 2 parts La Canellese Musk Bitter)
20 ml Don Montes blanco Tequila
20 ml Carlshamns Flaggpunch

Preparation: 3 ice cubes, stirred for 20 seconds (60 times).

They still exist, the forgotten, unknown mixed drinks that never really became known. Metaxa is one of them. Certainly not one of the great classics, but overall a coherent, tasty mixture.

In search of recipes that use Swedish Punch, we looked through old books to see what people used to do with it. We came across the Metaxa in R. de Fleury’s book “1800 – And All That”, which was published in London in 1937. Perhaps it was already published in 1934, in “1700 Cocktails for the Man Behind the Bar”, written by the same author. However, we do not have this book, so we cannot verify it.

The creator of the Metaxa is said to be T. E. Mounger or T. E. Mouncer. Unfortunately, we cannot find out who this is. It is also unclear why Metaxa was chosen as the name. It will probably not be a reference to the Greek brandy of the same name. Perhaps, however, the drink is dedicated to a person with the surname Metaxa? [1] [2]

We have adapted the recipe a little and roughly doubled the proportion of Swedish Punch. Otherwise, its characteristics are lost. Furthermore, we have chosen a different Quinquina instead of the original Kina Lillet. (Kina) Lillet has certainly changed its character over time. Originally it still contained the quinine that gave it its name, but this ingredient was removed from Lillet in 1985. Today, it is said to contain quinine again. [2] Nevertheless, we have chosen another Quinquina, because we like the Cap Corse very much and it has proven itself as a mixing ingredient.

Sources
  1. R. de Fleury: 1800 – And All That. Drinks Ancient and Modern. London, The St. Catherine Press, 1937.
  2. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaxa_(Begriffskl%C3%A4rung): Metaxa (Begriffserklärung).
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillet: Lillet.
Metaxa.
Metaxa.

Historical recipes

1937 R. de Fleury: 1800 – And All That. Seite 80. Metaxa.

Copyright by
T. E. Mounger
1/4 Tequila
1/2 Kina Lillet
1 Teaspoonful Swedish
Punch

1937 William J. Tarling: Café Royal Cocktail Book. Metexa.

Invented by
J. E. Mouncer
1/4 Tequila.
1/4 Swedish Punch.
1/2 Lillet.
Shake.

explicit capitulum
*

About

Hi, I’m Armin and I’m interested in the history of mixed drinks. I examine historical sources, scrutinise traditional narratives and try to present the development of our bar culture in as well-researched and accessible a way as possible. As a freelance journalist, I write about bar culture and focus particularly on historical and critical research. My articles are published in German and English. I value exchanging ideas with others who share this interest, as together we often discover more than any of us could find on our own. If you have any questions, would like to make a suggestion, or know of a source I should look into, I’d be delighted to hear from you. Even after thorough research, there’s always something new to discover – and I’m always keen to learn more.