Setting New Records in International Competitions
For those who’ve been tracing the rise of Australia’s gin industry, last night’s accolade at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London solidified what many already suspected: Four Pillars is a force to be reckoned with. Clinching the title of International Gin Producer of the Year for a record third time, the Yarra-based distillery has broken new ground. This marks the first time that any gin producer, and particularly an Aussie one, has seized this honour three times. The distillery first gained the award in 2019 and repeated the feat in 2020.
The IWSC is no small playground. It’s the world’s most extensive and long-standing spirits competition, boasting over 4,000 entries from distilleries around the globe in 2023 alone. To top it off, gin was the most entered category this year.
The People Behind the Spirit
Co-Founder and Distiller Cameron Mackenzie took the stage to accept this well-earned award. This win, he proclaimed, firmly places not only Four Pillars but also the broader Australian gin landscape at the zenith of global gin production. Notably, Australia’s Kangaroo Island Spirits and Sweden’s Herno Gin were among the finalists, adding a layer of competitiveness to the win.
Mackenzie expressed heartfelt joy for this win, stating it was “massive” for their team and the Australian spirits industry. As December approaches, Four Pillars gears up to celebrate a full decade of gin production, making this recent win even more meaningful.
Sustainability: A Cornerstone of Success
Just last year, Four Pillars bagged the inaugural Green Spirit Initiative Award at the IWSC, highlighting the distillery’s significant environmental efforts. Furthermore, as of March 2022, the distillery is Australia’s first certified Carbon Neutral gin producer. Both the facility and all gins bottled there have received this eco-friendly certification by Climate Active.
Christelle Guibert, CEO of the IWSC, underlined that the judges were impressed not just by Four Pillars’ award-winning gins but also by their commitment to sustainability, echoing last year’s Green Spirit Initiative Award.
A Future to Watch
Tonight, Cameron Mackenzie and Senior Distiller Sarah Prowse will join the ranks of London’s esteemed Gin Guild. Clearly, Four Pillars is not resting on its laurels. With a decade of gin-making to celebrate soon and a continuously expanding global footprint, Four Pillars has unquestionably established itself as a leader in the international spirits world.
