By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
Four Pillars have officially opened their distillery in Healsville, Yarra Valley, about an hour outside of Melbourne’s CBD.
The distillery will kick off its official opening with a weekend full of activities this coming Saturday and Sunday (31 October and 1 November), that includes masterclasses, tours of the facilities and gin cocktails for visitors.
Four Pillars Gin used to distil their gin at a makeshift distillery out the back of Rob Dolan Wines in South Warrandyte.
The new distillery is located on a former timber yard on the corner of Maroondah Highway and Lilydale Road. The 700 sqm property includes two German sister-stills dubbed Jude and Wilma, with a capacity of 600L and 450L respectively. A 50L still – used for more experimental gins – will arrive in early 2016 and has already been named Eileen.
All Four Pillars gins will be available for tasting and sale at the Distillery Door, which will be operational Thursday-Monday, 10:30am-5:30pm. The long copper bar of the cellar door will also offer up serving paddles of G&T three ways, build-your-own Negronis, Ginger Mules (gin and ginger beer) and nibblies.
The Distillery Door will be managed by Scott Gauld, while Four Pillars distiller and Healsville local, Cameron Mackenzie, will run regular masterclasses and tours.
“We want the Four Pillars Distillery to become Australia’s shrine to all things gin. When we officially throw open the doors this weekend we’re looking forward to giving people a full distillery door experience, complete with tastings, tours, masterclasses, good food and some bloody good drinks. Essentially we want every gin lover in Australia – and beyond – to come and visit us, and get a sense of what Aussie gin is about,” stated Mackenzie.
The Four Pillars portfolio comprises Rare Dry gin, Barrel Aged gin, Navy Strength gin, Spiced Negroni gin and Bloody Shiraz gin, the last of which has already sold out.