Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin

Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin. Four Pillars Distillery, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia — named International Gin Producer of the Year at the IWSC in both 2019 and 2020, distilled with 10 botanicals including whole fresh Australian oranges.

Four Pillars was founded in 2013 by Cameron MacKenzie, Matt Jones, and Stuart Gregor in the Yarra Valley outside Melbourne. They built their program around a German CARL copper pot still called Wilma, triple-filtered Yarra Valley water, and a botanical philosophy that draws equally from classic gin tradition, Australian native ingredients, and Asian spice. What makes the Rare Dry Gin's production unusual is the use of whole fresh oranges — not dried peel — which was suggested by a visiting German distiller during early development. Using the entire fruit, flesh and all, produces a softer, more integrated citrus character than peel alone ever could.

The ten botanicals span three distinct categories: classic gin botanicals (juniper, lavender, angelica), native Australian ingredients (lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry leaf), and Asian spice (cardamom, star anise, coriander, cinnamon) — united by the whole fresh oranges that tie everything together. It's a distinctly Australian gin: bold, vibrant, and built for cocktails, yet complex enough to reward sipping neat. Two-time IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year is not an accolade taken lightly.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Fresh orange zest and lemon myrtle leap from the glass, followed by juniper, warm cinnamon, and cardamom spice. Subtle lavender and pine needle complexity in the background.
• Palate: Smooth and well-balanced with citrus — orange and lemon — taking center stage. Cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise provide a gentle spice wave. Tasmanian pepperberry leaf adds a distinctive peppery warmth at mid-palate. Juniper present throughout but not dominant.
• Finish: Long and clean with lingering orange peel, anise, and a touch of Tasmanian pepper warmth. Dry zesty lemon on the close.

Specs

• Distillery: Four Pillars Distillery, Healesville, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
• Style: Contemporary Australian Dry Gin
• Botanicals: Juniper, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry leaf, cinnamon, lavender, angelica, star anise, whole fresh Australian oranges
• ABV: 41.8% (83.6 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin taste like? Fresh orange zest and lemon myrtle on the nose, with juniper, cinnamon, and cardamom. The palate is smooth and citrus-forward with warm Asian spice and Tasmanian pepper warmth. The finish is long, clean, and zesty.
• What makes Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin different from London Dry gins? It incorporates native Australian botanicals (lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry leaf) and uses whole fresh oranges rather than dried peel, producing a softer, more integrated citrus character. The Asian spice botanicals also give it more complexity than most London Drys.
• What botanicals are in Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin? Ten: juniper, coriander, cardamom, lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry leaf, cinnamon, lavender, angelica, star anise, and whole fresh Australian oranges.
• What cocktails is Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin best in? Outstanding in a Negroni, G&T with fresh orange garnish, or a classic Martini with an orange twist. The citrus and spice profile also works well in a gin Old Fashioned with orange bitters.
• Has Four Pillars won any awards? Yes — named International Gin Producer of the Year at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) in both 2019 and 2020. The IWSC is one of the most respected blind-tasting competitions in the spirits world.