Four Pillars wins two Masters at the 2017 Gin Masters

Results from the 2017 Gin Masters have been announced overnight, with Four Pillars awarded Master status for two of its gins - Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin and Spiced Negroni Gin.

Sixteen spirits experts gathered in London to assess the entries, blind tasting more than 150 gins divided by price and variety. Each expression was judged on its own merit and scored according to appearance, nose, taste, and overall balance. Four Pillars' win is impressive considering only 19 Masters were awarded this year. 

Judges noted that increased innovation in the category has not affected the quality of the offerings.

“We’re seeing an improvement in quality and an increase in innovation, but also an improvement in how people are innovating,” concluded Craft Distilling Expo founder David T Smith. "If excellence and newness continue to develop in tandem, spirits lovers have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about gin."

Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin was awarded Master status in the Navy Strength category for the third year running (2015, 2016 and now 2017). According to the judges, Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin was deemed as having the “wow factor”.

Four Pillars Distiller and co-founder Cameron Mackenzie (pictured above), who is currently in the US, said of the awards overnight: “I am absolutely pumped with those results. Its amazing to see the Navy Strength continuing to impress the judges year after year." 

Four Pillars Spiced Negroni Gin was awarded its first Master status, in the Contemporary category. According to spirits business: "Experimentation, cutting­-edge techniques, and a focus on less traditional flavours were expected in abundance going into the Contemporary round."

Judge Cherry Constable, freelance wine and spirits writer, commended the “soft, elegant and clean texture” of the Spiced Negroni gin.

"For the Spiced Negroni to be recognised as Master status as well is unreal – especially among such a high calibre of gins," said Mackenzie. "It’s a massive testament to the whole team at Four Pillars, and I hope everyone celebrates with a few G&Ts tonight!”

Four Pillars turns its focus to European growth

The win comes a month after Four Pillars appointed a trade relations manager for UK and Europe, Joe Worthington.

Worthington spent five years in Australia as group bars manager for the Applejack Hospitality Group, which owns Sydney bars Della Hyde, So-Cal, Bondi Hardware and The Butler. Most recently he was general manager of Portobello Road Distillery in Notting Hill. 

Worthington will train retail and bar staff, working with the UK distributor on commercial arrangements, and helping to develop markets inside mainland Europe as Four Pillars tackles international growth.

The company aims to sell around 2000 6-packs of gin across Europe in 2017.

Another Aussie winner at the Gin Masters

Archie Rose Distilling also took home two silver medals at the 2017 Gin Masters for its Horisumi Autumn Gin, and Distillers Strength Gin.

The Autumn Gin the first in a line-up of four limited edition gins infused with botanicals that paint a picture of the seasons in Japan. It features earthy flavours of juniper, red miso, burdock root, sesame and sansho pepper, resulting in a heartwarming gin with savoury umami notes.