You know what we love more than a great Australian gin? A good backstory. This year marks the third festive release from Four Pillars, a limited-edition offering that is a tribute to the four things that co-founder Cam Mackenzie loves – Australia, Christmas, gin and his late mother, Wilma. On Derby Day each year (aka the Saturday before Melbourne Cup), Wilma would use the 1968 Australian Women’s Weekly recipe to make her Christmas puddings. On Derby Day in 2015, Cam and the family kick started the tradition again and began making those same Christmas puddings – using the exact recipe, of course – with the intention of crafting a Christmas pudding-infused gin. The puddings were placed in the botanical basket of the Four Pillars still (which they have named Wilma), distilling a base of juniper, cinnamon, star anise, coriander and angelica over the top, all rounded out by some barrel-aged goodness.
Then, on Derby Day in 2016, the first Christmas Gin was released to the public from its Healesville distillery – smelling and tasting exactly like Christmas. Luckily for us, Cam and the team kept up the annual tradition, with each release sporting a vibrant new label each year. This Saturday November 3 is the third annual release of the Four Pillars Christmas Gin, which is this year encased by an eye-catching illustration representing the hot Australian summer from Melbourne artist Stephen Baker. Be quick and order yours online, as these sell notoriously fast. Cheers to Wilma, Christmas and a long, balmy Australian summer!