🥃 Macieira Five Star
Core brandy of the Macieira brand; in Portugal it is 5 Estrelas, the label reads Royal Spirit; wine distillate aged in oak; 36% ABV, no age statement.
Macieira Five Star is the main and best-known brandy of the Portuguese brand Macieira. In Portugal it is called 5 Estrelas, and the label reads Royal Spirit. According to Difford's Guide, it is 36% ABV and carries no age statement. In some markets, such as Canada, it is sold at 40% ABV.
It is a wine distillate aged in oak casks. According to the seller Garrafeira Nacional, the spirit is made from Arinto, Periquita, Trincadeira and Fernao Pires grapes, and it ages at least six months in oak. The producer does not disclose the exact blend recipe. In 2025, for the brand's 140th anniversary, the brandy received a new bottle, while the contents and label stayed the same.
Why it matters to you. Five Star is the base version of the brand; Macieira Cream is no longer a brandy but a cream liqueur based on it. Compare Five Star with other brandies rather than with cognac, since the name "Cognac" is protected. Check the strength on the label in your market. WHO reminds that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 36% ABV (Portugal, per Difford's Guide); 40% ABV in some markets |
|---|---|
| Raw material | wine distillate; per the seller, Arinto, Periquita, Trincadeira and Fernao Pires grapes |
| Cask type | oak casks |
| Minimum maturation | per the seller, at least 6 months in oak; no age statement on the label |
| EU category | 5 — brandy (brandy / Weinbrand) |
| Year founded | 1885 (Macieira brandy) |
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 5 — brandy |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Macieira Five Star → kind of → 🍇 Grape brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Macieira, 🥃 Brandy, 🍇 Grape brandies
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Cognac, 🥃 Macieira Cream, 🥃 Macieira Cream
Frequently asked questions
Is Macieira Five Star a cognac?
No. It is a Portuguese brandy made from wine distillate; the name "Cognac" belongs only to the French region.
What is the strength of Macieira Five Star?
According to Difford's Guide, 36% ABV; in some markets, such as Canada, 40% ABV. Check the label.
Are Five Star and Royal Spirit the same brandy?
According to available data, yes: Royal Spirit is the name on the label of the core Macieira brandy, known in Portugal as 5 Estrelas.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Macieira Cream · 🥃 Christian Brothers Apple · 🥃 Christian Brothers Honey · 🥃 Christian Brothers Peach · 🥃 Christian Brothers VS Brandy · 🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Macieira Five Star Portuguese Brandy (created 1885 by José Guilherme Macieira after studying in Cognac; 36 %; no age statement; Pernod Ricard)
- Garrafeira Nacional: Brandy Macieira 5 Stars (36 %; wine spirit from Arinto, Periquita, Trincadeira, Fernão Pires; minimum six months in oak)
- LCBO: Macieira Royal Spirit Brandy (Portugal; Portuguese grape varietals, aged in oak casks; 40 % for this market)
- Grande Consumo: Macieira celebrates 140 years with new bottle (brand 1885; Macieira Royal Spirit 70 cl; liquid and label unchanged; Pernod Ricard Portugal)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)