You may have seen Yarra-Valley, Australia-based gin brand Four Pillars in and about town recently since its introduction to Singapore in August in 2014 – you can, for example, find them in gin-focused bespoke cocktail bar The Spiffy Dapper – as brought in exclusively by wine importer and distributor Equatorial Wines.
But one of its latest expressions is also one of the hardest to lay your hands on here in Singapore. In fact the limited-edition gin, a collaboration between Four Pillars and Australian restaurant group Rockpool on behalf of Australian flag carrier Qantas called ‘Modern Australian Gin’, can only be purchased through Qantas epiQure, via the Four Pillars website and at the Four Pillars distillery.
First launched in Australia late 2013 by Stuart Gregor, Cameron Mackenzie and Matt Jones, Yarra Valley-based Four Pillars first started as a four-week crowdfunding campaign on Pozible that allowed supporters to get their hands on the very first batch of Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin. The funding campaign saw its AUD$10,000 target surpassed within four days, and culminating in 228 supporters pledging just over AUD$30,000 snapping up all 420 bottles of Batch NO_1.
For ‘Modern Australian Gin’ Four Pillars master distiller Cameron Mackenzie worked with Rockpool mixologists Ryan Gavin, Max Gurtler and Jacob Dykes to handpick botanicals such as red and green Szechuan, native quandong fruit, macadamia nuts, fresh grapefruit peel, tangelos and Rosie Glow apples to create an Asian-inspired gin – which is rather in line with the culinary philosophy of Rockpool’s Neil Perry – with softness and spice.
“The Asian spices give it a lovely warm mouthfeel, while the macadamia nuts give it softness and the apple and quandong give it freshness and a touch of the exotic. It’s delicious, it’s different and it will make a great drink, however you choose to enjoy it,” shares Four Pillars distiller Cameron Mackenzie. “We’re really excited to extend our Bartender Series and welcome the newest member of the family; the Modern Australian Gin,” Mackenzie adds.
If you’re a huge gin fan and want to get a taste of the Four Pillars’ ‘Modern Australian Gin’, aside from buying it in Australia there is however one way to get a taste of it here in Singapore – at the Qantas Singapore Lounge. Assuming you have access to the airport lounge located in Changi Airport Terminal 1 after you pass immigration – you’ll also need to be possess the right eligible class of travel or membership, such as Qantas Business customers, Platinum One, Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers, Qantas Club members and eligible oneworld customers – they actually stock the gin right there in their bar. If you’re so privileged, we recommend you try it both neat as well as in a gin and tonic.
The ‘Modern Australian Gin’ will be also poured in the Qantas First lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles, as well as the Hong Kong lounge. If you happen to be in the Qantas Sydney and Melbourne First lounges, you’ll even get to try three special cocktails concocted by Rockpool mixologists – the Hanky Panky, Gin Spritzer and The Doctors Order.
Otherwise you’ll just have to settle for the regular Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin available here in Singapore.
Check out the making of Four Pillars ‘Modern Australian Gin’ here:
