Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin :41.8%ABV
Botanicals: juniper, coriander, cardamon, lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepper berry leaf, cinnamon, lavender, angelica, star anise, fresh whole oranges
Flavour profile: floral, spice, citrus
Garnish: fresh orange or grapefruit
Four Pillars has come a long way since the company first introduced its Rare Dry Gin to the world in 2013. It was ahead of the gin popularity surge in Australia and as such took a risk in investing in such a big way, but this has paid off with many prestigious awards. And Four Pillars hasn’t rested on its laurels; the Melbourne-based distiller offers an interesting and varied portfolio of products. Others, take note.
The distillery is named after the four pillars that are central to its ethos: the copper pot still (named Wilma): the triple filtered Yarra valley water: local, exotic and classic botanicals: the love of what it does and the love of gin. The four pillars are represented by four bumps across the top of the round-necked bottles.
On the nose there is citrus and floral notes, nothing too forward (very un Australian).
Taste it and the true Aussie character comes out. Bold, forward and warm. It is a complex gin, it is unmistakably traditional but also unmistakably modern; a gin that is capable of satisfying both the traditionalist and the contemporary gin lover. Neat, there are juniper, orange, lemon, lavender and peppery notes. It is deliciously warm and we were more than happy to drink this on the rocks.
Unusually, whole oranges are used, with the lemon taste provided by lemon myrtle, a rare choice anywhere but Australia where it is almost de riguer to use it instead of lemon peel. Adding tonic garnished with a slice of orange brings out the orange, unsurprisingly, with peppery, spicy and floral undertones and makes an excellent G&T. We needed another one, or was it two, just to make sure!
The spicy citrus taste works well in cocktails with a great martini being produced among others. We left a Negroni to Four Pillars Spiced Negroni Gin (to be reviewed in the near future) but feel sure that the Rare Dry would rustle up a perfectly acceptable one as well.
This is a cracking gin that deserves a very wide audience.
