Four Pillars has launched its 2021 barrel-aged gins, following the annual release being put on hold last year. The delay means the barrel-aged gins have two more years in cask and are looking better than ever.

This year marks the ninth release of Chardonnay Barrel Gin and third release of Sherry Cask Gin. Plus, there’s a new super-limited release to add to the collection for those looking for something extra special. Four Pillars is introducing its first-ever single barrel release: Single Barrel Release S31, the first of a series of super-limited singles.

Distiller Cameron Mackenzie was tasting across all of Four Pillars’ barrels back in 2019 when he spotted a few barrels with incredible potential. One of them was S31, an old Sherry cask that had spent more than 30 years ageing Sherry and Apera at McWilliam’s. He set that barrel aside, and he’s bottled just 670 of this single cask for this release. 

The 2021 Chardonnay Barrel Gin has spent an entire year in French Oak ex-Chardonnay barrels giving the palate a light, creamy texture with added spice from the last release. As soon as you open the bottle, you’ll get great aromas of preserved lemon, ginger, light vanilla and cinnamon.

The 2021 Sherry Cask Gin is rich and layered, with fruit and nut flavours. The Sherry cask solera is made up of 42 casks, some from Spain and some from Australian Apera (fortified wine). The colour has deepened as the casks age, and residual sherry characters are underpinned by pine oil notes. The gin finishes with a subtle sweetness from the tweak of Amontillado Sherry added at bottling.

Single Barrel S31 was aged for 3.5 years in Barrel S31, a 30-year-old Sherry (and Apera) cask made by Tonnellerie Dargaud et Jaegle and sourced from McWilliam’s. S31 is a hogshead cask and was filled in July 2016. The resulting gin tastes of concentrated juniper, dried fruits, cashew, chocolate and spice. It has already picked up a swag of medals including Master at the Asian Gin Masters 2020 and Gold at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition 2020.

Four Pillars Chardonnay Barrel Gin, 500mL, RRP $80; Four Pillars Sherry Cask Gin, 500mL, RRP $80; Four Pillars Single Barrel Release S31, ABV 56.8%, 500mL, RRP $150.

The barrel-aged gins are available exclusively from www.fourpillarsgin.com and at its Gin Shops in Surry Hills and Healesville from April 20, 2021.

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