Four Pillars Bloody Midwinter Gin Fest

Overview

Four Pillars' bloody gin season is back for another year, which is one piece of bloody excellent news. There's more where that came from. In 2023, the Healesville-based distillery has two limited-edition wine-infused concoctions on offer: the cult-favourite Bloody Shiraz Gin and new sibling Bloody Pinot Noir Gin.

Spirits fiends familiar with the shiraz version will know that it is ridiculously popular for a reason. Also, it's gin infused with shiraz grapes. That blend gives the drop its cerise hue, and provides sweet undertones — but means that it avoids a higher sugar content. It is boozier, though, with an alcoholic content of 37.8 percent (compared to an average 25 percent in regular sloe gin).

The 2023 Bloody Shiraz Gin follows that process again, while the Bloody Pinot Noir Gin sees Four Pillars try another grape variety. If the distillery is bottling it and selling it, clearly it turned out well, too. This newcomer also sources its fruit from Yarra Valley again. The end result is softer and lighter but with a heavier gin taste, and with aromas of rose petals, strawberries and cherries.

Anson Smart

Also bloody brilliant: to celebrate not one but two bloody gins, and bloody season overall, Four Pillars is hosting a midwinter gin fest. Running from Saturday, June 10 till the end of July in Melbourne, the festival is actually a heap of events heroing the two tipples (and getting everyone saying "bloody" over and over).

So, the Healesville distillery will celebrate World Gin Day across Saturday, June 10–Sunday, June 11 with a weekend-long party filled with drinks, snacks, DJs, workshops and free tastings. It's also hosting a Fireside Festival that's all about hot cocktails on three Saturdays: July 8, 15 and 22.

And, Yakimono is doing a feast on Tuesday, July 11; there'll be takeovers at Dessous and Goldilocks on various dates; and the Gin & Film Fest is back at Thornbury Picture House on Thursday, July 6 and Thursday, July 13.

Top image: Kate Shanasy.