Four Pillars has just announced the release of two super-limited gins – Rarer Dry Gin made with yuzu and Rarest Dry Gin made with bergamot.

Earlier this year, Distiller Cam MacKenzie came across locally-grown yellow yuzu and green bergamot, which reminded him of the early days of Four Pillars, and the distillery’s love affair with oranges. Alongside nine signature botanicals, fresh oranges launched Rare Dry Gin into a whole new universe of flavour.

These latest citrus experiments have resulted in two unique limited-edition citrus gins, each paying tribute to Four Pillars’ original and much-loved Rare Dry Gin.

Rarer Dry Gin swaps out Four Pillars’ trademark oranges for locally grown fresh yellow yuzu. The yuzu adds mandarin, lemon and cumquat aromatics and flavours to the gin. According to the distiller it makes a stunning G&T, an equally delicious Gin & Soda Highball and is also great with StrangeLove Yuzu Soda.

Rarest Dry Gin features green bergamot, which adds herbaceous and bitter orange notes to the aromatics and palate. Four Pillars said this makes a superb deeper and more herbaceous G&T that goes well with a rosemary or thyme garnish.

“Jane and Brian from Mountain Yuzu were chestnut farmers before they switched to citrus and we’re sure glad they did,” Mackenzie said. “We picked the bergamot when it was dark green, like the Italians do for bitters. The oil is bigger, hugely aromatic and more bitter. When we zested it over a few days the whole distillery smelled of bergamot.”

Just like the original, there were bi-products from the distillation that the team didn’t want to go to waste, so they’ve also created a Made from Gin Yuzu & Bergamot Shred Marmalade.

The gins have an RRP of $75 each (and $12 for the marmalade) and are available from September 11, 2021.

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