New data shows two Australian craft distilleries are producing two of the nation’s top 10 biggest selling gins.

Four Pillars is now the No.4 gin brand in Australia, while Ink Gin is at No.10. The coup by Four Pillars comes a little over two years since Lion bought a 50% stake in the company.

At the time, co-founder Stuart Gregor told Smart Company: “Now it’s about growing internationally, but also consolidating where we are in Australia … we want to be over Hendricks.”

And now it is, with Hendricks moving to No.6 position.

“We are thrilled to have taken the overall number four spot in overall gin sales in Australia,” said Gregor. “If you’d told us  five years ago that Gordon’s, Tanqueray and Bombay would be the only gins selling more than us in our home market, we’d have been pretty groovy with that. And the fact that one in three bottles of Aussie gin sold is now Four Pillars is pretty cool as well.

“It’s been a hell of a journey and we want to thank our distributor partners Vanguard for their stellar efforts and all our customers for their ongoing support. We will not rest and we will endeavour to make great gin, stay humble, have fun and get up the next day and do it again with a smile.”

Ink Gin comes in at No.10 on the biggest selling gins list. It’s produced by Husk Distillers in Northern NSW. The inky blue-coloured gin contains butterfly pea flowers, which are highly sensitive to pH. When the floral-infused Ink Gin is mixed with something of low pH (including gin’s best friends; tonic water, lime or lemon), the colour changes dramatically from blue to blush pink.

Topping Australia’s biggest selling gins list is Diageo’s Gordons, followed by Tanqueray and Bombay Sapphire.

Diageo Australia organic volumes grew 25%, net sales grew 23% and reported net sale were up 26% in the six months to December 31, 2020, thanks to “strong off-trade momentum” and a stellar performance by the drinks giant’s gin portfolio. Gin sales were up 48% for the drinks giant, driven by Gordon’s and Tanqueray.

Four Pillars breaks ground on $6m expansion