Metaxa Twelve Competition 2025

13.11.2025

The METAXA Twelve Competition is an international cocktail competition that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the versatility of METAXA 12. Since its launch in 2019, the competition has brought together top bartenders from across Europe, inspiring them to push the boundaries of mixology and create innovative cocktails.

At this year’s competition, held on November 3rd in Athens, Estonia was represented by Erik Tammeleht from Restaurant Rudolf. The cocktail theme was “When the cold winter meets the Greek sun”, and participants were challenged to create a hot cocktail that would warm you up on a chilly winter day.

Erik’s outstanding performance and flavorful hot cocktail achieved an impressive result — his creation, “Summer Under Snow,” won 2nd place at the global Metaxa Twelve Competition. Congratulations, Erik!

We’re excited to share with you the recipe for the cocktail that earned 2nd place — “Summer Under Snow”
by Erik Tammeleht, Estonia @eriktammeleht
Rudolf Restaurant, Tallinn @rudolfrestoran

50ml Metaxa 12
30ml Red wine from Greece
5ml Mastiha liquor
2 dashes Chamomile bitters
50ml Roasted Strawberry Cordial* see the recipe below
60ml Aloe Vera water
60ml Tonka Coconut cream* see the recipe below

Method: Heated + cold coconut cream on top
Garnish: Sugared Cladonia stellaris (reindeer lichen), printed logo
Glass: IKORII Double Wall Spiral Glass

*Roasted Strawberry Cordial – Roast 2kg of store-bought strawberries with crushed
black pepper and 300g of honey for 15minutes at 200 degrees and 10% steam.
Blend the strawberries and add 4g of Pecinex to the base and let sit in the fridge
for 24h. In 150g of water dissolve 8g of agar-agar and heat till it dissolves. Mix
dissolved agar-agar with the strawberry mixture that is on room temperature and
freeze the base solid. Slowly melt the strawberry mixture on top of a fine mesh.
This is how you make clear and lactose free cordial.

*Tonka Coconut cream – Take 400ml of thick coconut cream, add 60ml of white
chocolate syrup and 5ml (2bs) of tonka bitters. Shake till thickened, serve over the
cocktail