Another year, another limited-edition Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin. If previous sell-out years are anything to go by, the purple reign will continue its rule when the annual spirit goes on sale on 10 June, 2023. And this time, there’s a brand-new (and very limited) Bloody Pinot Noir Gin being released too.
The perennial gin release for the Victorian distillery sees more than 100 tonnes of whole, de-stemmed shiraz grapes steeped in Four Pillars’ Rare Dry Gin for eight weeks, before the fruit is pressed and blended with more gin. The grapes “bleed” into the clear juniper-spirit, infusing it with a distinctive deep-purple hue and a fruity, though un-cloying, sweetness. It’s unfiltered, too – those sediments at the bottom of the bottle are a natural consequence of the grape-steeping process.
The 2023 limited-edition Bloody Shiraz Gin will sport a unique bottle design by artist Luke Lucas.
The Bloody Shiraz gin has a renegade history. The inaugural release in 2015 used some 250 kilograms of shiraz grapes from the vineyard of Rob Dolan, the celebrated winemaker and then-landlord of the Four Pillars distillery. “We stumbled upon – well, we stole – grapes from his winery to make the first batch,” said Mackenzie in 2019.
As for the final product, it’s first and foremost a gin. “It has a pine-forest, juniper character, and a Yarra Valley, white-pepper spice from the shiraz,” Mackenzie has said previously. “Yarra and cool-climate shiraz is quite unique – it’s not big and jammy like McLaren Vale or Barossa varieties. It’s medium-bodied, so you tend to get more spice and dark-berry notes.”
Citrus is a friend to the shiraz-gin. Four Pillars recommends serving it simply with lemon tonic, over ice; it can be made into a Spritz with fresh grapefruit juice and sparkling wine too.
But perhaps more excitingly, Four Pillars is releasing its first-ever Bloody Pinot Noir Gin. The new winey gin is a paler, more delicate gin with a hints of rose petals, strawberries and cherries balanced by a touch of acidity. If the Bloody Shiraz is anything to go by, it’ll be bloody delicious.
And to round out the Bloody band, you can know also purchase cans of pre-made Bloody Shiraz G&Ts.
