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.

Also bloody brilliant: to celebrate not one but two bloody gins, and bloody season overall, Four Pillars is hosting a midwinter gin fest. Running all throughout June and July in Sydney — even kicking off a couple of days early on Tuesday, May 30 — the festival is actually a heap of events heroing the two tipples (and getting everyone saying "bloody" over and over).

So, the Four Pillars Lab 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. The venue is also doing a Golden Century BBQ takeover, teaming pork, duck and dumplings with Bloody Shiraz Gin drinks on Saturday, June 17–Sunday, June 18.

And, the brand is putting on a big feast with North Bondi Fish on Wednesday, July 19; popping up at North Sydney's Rafi and the Harbour View Hotel on various dates; and bringing back the Gin & Film Fest at Golden Age Cinema every Wednesday in July, this time with a focus on slasher sirens.

Top image: Wes Nel.