Drinks @ Eau de Vie, Melbourne

Photo credit: Dmitri Nikulin

Late one winter’s evening I met my dear friend Dmitri (who took the wonderfully atmospheric photos that accompany this review) for a drink at Eau de Vie.

Eau is hidden away, tucked behind a nondescript door in a back alley off Flinders Lane at the Paris end. But it is worth finding. As you step through the door you are transported decades into the past as the deep carpets, and rich dark wood, absorb both the sounds of the other patrons and the cares of the world.

The staff are polite and extremely knowledgeable about what is an incredibly extensive drinks menu. As demonstrated by the photo above, they have spirits from every corner of the globe, and many of the bottles are special hard to find varieties that few other bars carry.

Photo credit: Dmitri Nikulin

Dmitri ordered an ‘Old Fashioned’ (Two parts whisky, house bitters, sugar, rind) with a special bourbon called Booker Noe’s (62.5% and an intense maple flavour). I had a Glenfarclas 21yo neat (but with just a drop of water to help open the flavours).

The cocktail was expertly made and my whisky was allowed to air just enough to make drinking it a special experience. The ambiance, service, quality of product and range of drinks makes a trip to Eau de Vie well worthwhile. I will be back.