Four Pillars has begun work on a $6 million ($4.57m USD) expansion. The Australian distillery’s redevelopment project is expected to take about 12 months.
The Four Pillars expansion project will involve constructing the Yarra Valley-based distillery’s new home, which will sit adjacent to the current distillery in Healesville. The new building will be built to “blend seamlessly” with the current distillery and hospitality space, which is a repurposed timber yard.
Sustainable design firm Breathe Architecture is overseeing the construction of the new building, which will feature hospitality facilities, production and bottling equipment, and a space for events. The additional space will enable Four Pillars to increase its visitor capacity to more than 200,000 visitors a year.
“When we began making Four Pillars, the Yarra Valley was always intended to be our home and when we found our original site, we couldn’t believe our luck,” said Cameron Mackenzie, Four Pillars co-founder. “When the opportunity came to buy the land next door, we simply had no choice but to roll the dice and back our Yarra Valley dream to the hilt. Since we have re-opened over summer, the distillery has been busier than ever and too often, we have queues out of the front and far too many people are turned away from sharing a drink with us. With this new home that shouldn’t, hopefully, be a problem any longer.”
Last month, Four Pillars announced it was teaming up with Melbourne venue Arbory Afloat to launch Beach House Gin. The pink spirit is packed full of citrus tones as it utilizes lemon myrtle as well as grapefruit, orange, and lemon peel. Those botanicals are balanced by the flavors of Davidson plums, sweet strawberry gum and capped off with pineapple sage. The goal is to create a spirit that makes you feel like you’re on holiday.
In November, Four Pillars launched its Modern Australian Gin in the United Kingdom for the first time, just one month after beginning sales of its Bloody Shiraz Gin in the UK. In August, the Australian Gin maker added Olive Leaf Gin to its lineup. The new savory spirit has been infused with olive leaf and oil.
