Down under but on top of the world: Four Pillars named IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year for second year running

Fast-growing Australian spirits company Four Pillars Gin has claimed the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) International Gin Producer of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

“This is a triumph for strength over adversity, for professionalism and passion in the face of what sometimes in 2020 seemed insurmountable odds” – Four Pillars Co-founder and Distiller Cameron Mackenzie

Down under but on top of the world: Four Pillars claims the IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year title for the second time

Winners of the 51st IWSC awards were announced online in a YouTube Premiers event which screened in Australia early today (19 November).

As reported, Four Pillars was the first Australian distillery to win the title last year. According to Four Pillars, “going back-to-back cements its position at the very top of the world of gin producers large and small”.

Four Pillars Gin was established in 2013 in the Yarra Valley on the outskirts of Melbourne by three friends: Cameron Mackenzie, Stuart Gregor and Matt Jones.

It has become one of the world’s benchmark distilleries, Australia’s number one craft spirit and a leading light in the Australian and global gin revolution.

Four Pillars Gin’s product line-up includes Rare Dry Gin, Bloody Shiraz Gin, Spiced Negroni Gin, Modern Australian Gin, Navy Strength Gin and Olive Leaf Gin.

As reported, brewing giant and Australian craft beer specialist Lion invested in Four Pillars gin last year, taking a 50% share of the business.

The IWSC title recognises Four Pillars’ leading role in the world of gin in 2020.  Both the Bloody Shiraz Gin and Rare Dry Gin won Gold Medals at the competition.

Four Pillars Co-founder and Distiller Cameron Mackenzie admitted that claiming the award for a second time was “almost too much”.

Waiting and celebrating: Cameron MacKenzie as the news of the second IWSC title was announced

“After the year we’ve had and the exhaustion we have felt, I couldn’t quite believe it when they called out our name. I was wearing my full kilt for good luck, same as I did last year in London, and I don’t think I will take it off all day, maybe all week.”

Mackenzie said the award marked “a triumph for strength over adversity, for professionalism and passion in the face of what sometimes in 2020 seemed insurmountable odds”.

“This is a victory for every single person in the Four Pillars world but most particularly for everyone at Healesville who has faced so much uncertainty and difficulty this year but has never stopped putting in the hard yards.”

Mackenzie said would celebrate over “a socially-distanced drink or two”. “Who would have thought that phrase would be uttered a year ago,” he added.

Four Pillars congratulated the three other finalists in the International Gin Producer of the Year category: Kangaroo Island Spirits, Hernö Gin, and the Zamora Company, owner of Martin Miller’s.

Four Pillars shared its “crazy ride” to the top of the gin category at the recent Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo where it highlighted its recently launched Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin.

NOTE: Craft spirits will be a core focus at World of Spirits, a pioneering new virtual expo set to take place on 17-23 May 2021. This unique trade + consumer virtual experience is the world’s first fully virtual event of its kind for the spirits industry.

The Expo is organised by the Moodie Davitt Virtual Expo company, one of the world’s leading business publishers and event organisers, with project leadership from spirits expert Becky Paskin, co-founder of OurWhisky and former editor of Scotchwhisky.com and The Spirits Business.

For further details of this exciting event please contact Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com or Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com.

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