Keen for some good, thirsty news to lift your spirits? The 2023 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) just went down in London Town, and Australia's very own gin hero Four Pillars won International Gin Producer of the Year for the third time. That's right, Four Pillars produces the Best Gin on Earth. We're pretty chuffed.
While this alone is a huge deal in itself, the rocking distillery and gin brand also broke some records on the night. It's the first time any gin producer from around the globe has won the award three times, with Four Pillars having beaten out all other contestants in 2019 and 2020 prior to this year's event.
The IWSC is the world's largest and most prestigious spirits competition and attracted more than 4,000 entries from international distilleries, with gin being the biggest category of them all.
"Back in 2013, we set out with the ambition to make world-class gin, so to win this award three times is simply mind-blowing," said co-founder and distiller Cameron Mackenzie, who was in London to accept the award. "I kind of knew we had a chance when two of our gins scored 98 points but kept it on the lowdown until last week when I dusted off the kilt! It’s a massive thrill for our team back at home and for the Australian spirits industry overall, and even sweeter that Four Pillars celebrates 10 years of making gin this December".
The two gins that scored 98 out of 100 points were Four Pillars' Bloody Underhill Vineyard Shiraz Gin 2022 and Single Barrel S36 Gin. Mackenzie and fellow distiller Sarah Prowse have now been inducted into London's prestigious Gin Guild. Australia's Kangaroo Island Spirits and Sweden's Herno Gin were the other two distilleries on the final shortlist.
International Gin Producer of the Year isn't the only award Four Pillars has taken out in the history of the competition. Back in 2022, the team was presented with the Green Spirit Initiative Award which recognises achievements in environmentally friendly production and business practices. The award was won on the back of Four Pillars becoming Australia's very first certified carbon-neutral gin distilling business. The distillery in Healesville has recently been expanded and redesigned to minimise waste and save energy, along with a host of other eco-friendly initiatives.
The Time Out Australia team was honoured to have Four Pillars as our drinks sponsors at both the 2023 Sydney and Melbourne Food & Drink Awards. With the weather beginning to warm up Down Under, we reckon an ice-cold G&T is in order to celebrate Four Pillars' achievement.
We sure will be hitting it.
And if you're keen to taste a tipple in person, you can find the Four Pillars Gin Laboratory in Surry Hills.