New Peas & Old Brandy is named for a line about the good life

The internationally acclaimed Melbourne bar, Byrdi, may now be closed — the bar had its last service in September — but there was always a good drink there. Take New Peas & Old Brandy, for instance.

“Three of the four essentials for a good life: hot baths, cold champagne, new peas and old brandy,” says the drink’s creator, Samuel Thornhill.

New Peas & Old Brandy

Ingredients:

• 30ml White Flowers
• 10ml pea husk shochu
• 20ml mint umeshu
• 20ml apricot vinegar
• 100ml pear skin wine

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients and filter.
2. Transfer to PET bottles, chill and carbonate.
3. Pour into a chilled glass.
4. Garnish with fresh peas dressed with wasabi oil, herbed mint salt, dill, elderflower and caviar.

Recipe by Samuel Thornhill at Byrdi, Melbourne.