It was only by chance, and a last minute decision, that I was brought along to the Adelaide launch of the Four Pillars Gin at the Mother Vine Wine Bar. I must admit, I’ve never been a real fan of gin, however, I was open to further enlightenment.

Four Pillars are a small Australian craft distillery based in the Yarra Valley. Their one ambition is to make the best craft spirits in Australia. Their first product was a Rare Dry Gin, that was crafted in a modern Australian style that captured both the flavours of both Asia and the Mediterranean. Keen to get some feedback on how their Rare Dry Gin fared, they entered the San Fransisco World Spirits Competition to come out with a double gold.

Their next release was a Barrel Aged Gin. This was a very limited released gin that was rested in a solera of French oak barriques for between three to six months. The result was a complex and delicious gin. The third product in their line is their Naval Strength Gin, which at 58.8% ABV, is gunpowder proof. With the same base combination of the botanicals as the Rare Dry Gin, they’ve added ginger and turmeric to complement the Asian spices, and replaced two thirds of the oranges with fresh ginger limes.

Of course, how could you release a line of gin without having it at a nice swanky wine bar. The Mother Vine Wine Bar venue is just as spectacular as the Four Pillars Gin. The bar has an industrial warehouse feel with it’s polished concrete floors, exposed brickwork and low hanging light fittings. The building is conveniently located on a corner position which maximises the amount of natural light that flows in. The windows in the bar area slide down vertically, making the whole space light and airy. With a combination of normal and bench seating, there’s plenty of room, even for the larger gatherings.

Four Pillars Gin is made using 10 botanicals; juniper berries, cardamon pods, coriander seeds, cinnamon, lavendar, angelica, star anise, Tasmanian pepper berry leaf, lemon myrtle and whole fresh oranges. Cameron Mackenzie, the distiller, weaves his magic and out comes out comes a smooth and complex spirit with a 41.8% alcohol volume.

We started off our drinking session with Gin and Tonic which was made from Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin and Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water.

Gin and Tonic is an easy drink to get wrong. It’s very simple because very little goes into it, so what it comes down to are the quality of the ingredients. I was glad to see that the tonic water came in single serve small bottles which is essential to preserve the freshness.

The gin, on the other hand, has a juniper base and a mix of various botanicals that gives it a unique forestry scent. With fresh blood orange, the coldest ice you can get, and a gin to tonic ratio of 2:1, you get a very tasty and refreshing drink.

A Martini is a drink that you just can’t throw together. As there are so few ingredients, it’s all about balance. The Martini we had was made with Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin and Maidenii Dry Vermouth. The gin had a hint of cardamom and citrus in the botanical mix with juniper right at the forefront. Combine this with the native Australian flavours in the vermouth and you get a delectable level of spiciness. The gin to vermouth ratio was measured precisely at 4:1, and with gentle mixing to prevent bruising of the gin, you end up with a mighty fine Martini!

To finish off the day, we had the Negroni which features the new Four Pillars Naval Strength Gin. It has the same base combination of the botanicals as the Rare Dry Gin, however, they’ve added ginger and turmeric to complement the Asian spices, and then replaced two thirds of the orange content with fresh ginger limes.

The Negroni drink itself is sophisticated and yet simple. One might be attracted to it’s glowing reddish colour or the wonderful scent of citrus, but this drink really packs a punch. The flavours of the alcohol are not disguised but celebrated. There’s the bitterness from the campari, the sweetness from the vermouth and the pronounced accents from the Four Pillars Naval Strength Gin. Now you wouldn’t expect these ingredients to work in harmony, but they marry beautifully with each other.

Today, it was great to hear about the personal stories behind the Four Pillars brand and the undeniable passion that have for their products. Having not been a fan of gin in the past, I’ve now been converted. Four Pillars is a name that you’re going to hear a lot more of and I can see why it’s the product of choice for serious bar professionals. Combine that with the fantastic bar tending skills from the guys at Mother Vine and it’s stylish and sophisticated locale, and it was a Monday afternoon that I’ll certainly remember.

WHERE: 26-33 Vardon Ave, Adelaide