Gin is, I am sure you’ll agree, delicious and worthy of celebration. At Four Pillars, in Healesville, it is the star of the show. What started out as a gin distillery and small bar is currently in the process of growing into an impressive tourist destination. Actually, what started out in a small still in a back shed of Rob Dolan’s winery in Warrandyte, has gone on to win best gin in the world in 2019 and 2020 at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, in London. It is the first Australian gin to achieve this accolade.
This weekend my gin-partner-in-crime and I escaped the soggy, dreary hills and headed to Healesville to enjoy some gin, some expert knowledge and some wonderfully woven gin tales. The G&T tasting is 55 minutes long and costs $50 per person. If you buy a bottle of gin at the end of the session, you receive a $25 discount, meaning the gin tasting is only $25, if purchase some gin. Why would you not?
The session is held in a built for purpose room overlooking the distillery. Everything at Four Pillars is totally functional and exquisitely beautiful. A wonderful combination of copper, stainless steel, glass, dark wood and incredible marketing. The captivating feature as you walk into the education room is Coral. Coral is a small Carl still from Stuttgart, Germany. She is shiny, statuesque and deliciously industrial. She is also a brilliant backdrop for the “tasting” which includes a very detailed explanation about how Coral turns ethanol, water and an interesting array of botanicals into international competition winning gin.
Our tasting, which was so much more than just a tasting, was facilitated by Zoe. Zoe was professional, knowledgeable and engaging. She explained the history of the company. The passion of the owners, notably Cam, the distiller, who has a background in wine, a love of gin and an exceptional imagination. (A quality he refers to as ginnovation). She explained all of the botanicals used in Four Pillar’s gins, both their purpose and the method in which they are used. Zoe also highlighted the use of Yarra Valley collected rain water in the distilling process.
Having participated in several gin masterclasses prior to this one, I found the information interesting and fresh. I learned some new things about gin and I enjoyed the tasting even more than I remember enjoying my previous visit to Four Pillars.
The tale of the day was the history behind Navy Strength Gin. When sailors were paid in rations of alcohol and gin was used with citrus to ward off scurvy, many recipients questioned whether their stipend had been watered down. The Navy devised a solution, which was paramount to the safety of the crew. Gin was often stored below deck with the gunpowder. Gunpowder will still ignite if soaked in gin with an alcohol content of at least 57%. If the alcohol content is lower, the gunpowder will smoulder and will not ignite. Rendering it useless in a situation where one needs gunpowder. If the gunpowder ignites it is at least 57% alcohol, thereby proving the gin is undiluted. Not only ensuring the remuneration was honest and fair, but potentially saving the crew from becoming embroiled in a battle with no ammunition.
Despite the gloomy weather, which unfortunately followed us to Healesville (or was, perhaps, already there before us) we really enjoyed our ginscursion. Four Pillars expansion is due to complete this summer. It will provide a substantial increase in capacity, event and retail space and will also provide a new sensory experience, yet to be unveiled. I look forward to going back and my next visit may have to include the Maker’s class. I would really like to see the still in action and then enjoy the fruits of it’s labour and my inquisitiveness, mixed with some Strangelove tonic. All relevant information can be found on the website here.
