Once upon a time when alcopops were still in their infancy and Ice was a twinkle in Smirnoff’s eyes there was a drink called Martini Metz. It was a refreshing dry drink slightly different from the sickly sweet Hooches, Two Dogs and all the cheap imitations that were around at the time circa 1996. It also came in a funky frosted bottle and a creepy ad campaign. Who remembers the Judderman? They tried a couple of variants such as a still one that flipped, as they were not that nice and also a stronger shooter version. I really liked it but it seemed to disappear once Smirnoff ice and co became popular.
So why am I writing this review if this drink is obsolete? It is not. Lo and behold it is alive and kicking. It has changed its moniker slightly by dropping the Martini probably because martini has a rather frumpy image. Martini is the sort of drink your mother drinks. Metz is not the most common drink to buy. I get my supply in the Tescco Metro in Market Street in Manchester City Centre but I am not sure I have seen it anywhere else
The first thing about Metz is that it is pretty cheap. In Tesco you can get a 750 ml bottle for a cheap £1.45 or a four pack of 275 ml bottles for £3.11. Cheap alcohol is good news for me!!
Unfortunately the bottles are not as funky. Gone are the frosted bottles. It’s a clear bottle with a brighter red and black label. The drink is brewed by the Metz Company under licence from Barcadi-Martini.
It’s also weaker than most alcopops and designer drinks being only 4% alcohol.
The drink is best drunk chilled to make the most of that clean crisp taste so after having the bottle in my fridge I poured a glass. It has not got that much of a smell. Its appearance is very clear and pure. It has none of the cloudiness of Smirnoff ice. It is also very fizzy.
Time to taste this drink. I remember really liking it. It is described as a citrus flavoured drink mixed with alcohol. Sounds good. However my first mouthful of it is not so good. It just tastes like cheap lemonade to me. Pretty flavourless and with no hint of the alcohol whatsoever . I take another drink. Thats more like it. I get more a lemony refreshing flavour. It is still quite dry and crisp but not quite how I remember. One thing I can say about it is it is very very drinkable. I could easily gulp down a couple of glasses or bottles of this as it does not have too strong a flavour.
My mind maybe playing tricks on me but this is not quite the same drink as it used to be. I remember a much dryer drink. However it is cheap and quite thirst quenching. So if you do manage to find it and like Smirnoff Ice I would recommend it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I tried a bottle once at a party and seem to remember liking it, but there is that time at a party when almost anything tastes good! Those were the days! LOL. Now I pretty much only drink red wine, Jack Daniels, real ale and the odd bottle/can of something weird and different. I might hunt out a bottle and give it another go.
Thanks
Donna
star333 05.01.2005 21:08
Never tried this before, it sounds like my kind of drink thanks for the info x
Lush1 28.11.2004 20:23
Ive never seen this, but I love Smirnoff Ice, so if I do see it Ill have to try it.
very helpful by (89%):
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