Four Pillars Gin Co-founder Stuart Gregor and Lark Whisky Co-founder Lyn Lark were inducted into the Australian Distillers Hall of Fame at the Gala Dinner of the Australian Distillers Annual Conference in Melbourne on Monday 27th March 2023.
Gregor and Lark become Hall of Fame inductees five and six, after the four founding fathers of the modern Australian craft distilling scene were the inaugural inductees in 2022. The first four are Bill Lark, Cameron Syme, Patrick Maguire, and posthumously Raymond ‘Spike’ Dessert.
Gregor was President of Australian Distillers from 2014 to 2022 and his induction is recognition of this alongside the part he has played in building Four Pillars into the business it is today.
Australian Distillers (formerly Australian Distillers Association) is the industry’s peak body and during Gregor’s tenure membership grew tenfold from around 30 members to well over 400.
“This is a rare honour, and something that is a testament, if nothing else, for how far we have come as an industry and how well Australian Distillers has evolved since I got out of the way last year,” Gregor said.
The Hall of Fame announcements were made at the largest ever Australian Distillers conference, attended by more than 500 delegates, a far cry from the 2014 ‘conference’ held at the original Starward distillery which attracted 16 attendees.
“Australian Distillers is in great shape, there are great state bodies everywhere including NSW, surely we need to get Minns on the gins, and while we have much to still fight for as excise is going to top $100 per litre of alcohol this year, we also have much to celebrate,” said Gregor.
Kristy Lark-Booth said her mother has been such a huge part of the industry, but has remained in the background for so long so it was lovely to see her get some recognition for all the hard work she has done.
“Mum is amazing, she has been the backbone, or in her words the draught horse of the industry. She has always supported Dad and helped grow the industry to what it is today. Her palate is amazing and she has a way of creating amazing products. She is the driving force and encouragement we didn’t know we needed and the glue that holds us all together. She is a great wife, mother to three, and grandmother to five, and advocate for the whole industry. Without her involvement, the industry wouldn’t have got to where it is today.”
