To kick off the re-release of its Sticky Carpet Gin, Four Pillars is hosting a free party at the venue with the claim to the stickiest carpet in all of Australia, Hotel Esplanade, or the ‘Espy’ as it affectionately known. 

The carpet at the Espy has remained unchanged for 144 years, and was the original inspiration of Four Pillars’ original 2019 Sticky Carpet gin release.

“I know they say the follow-up album is often never better than the first, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job at proving them wrong,” said Head Distiller Cameron Mackenzie.

“Sticky Carpet Gin has become one of our most requested limited-edition gins to bring back from the archives, and I can’t wait to get it out there.”

The original release mixed in a roasted stout into the stills alongside its botanical mix to emulate the personality of Australia’s great hotel front bars and their histories. For 2024, the roasted stout has been substituted for Little Creatures Pale Ale to extract more lifted aromatics in its profile. 

“The Little Creatures brewers have made a beer that is the benchmark for American-style pale ale, with slightly tropical and resin-y flavours, like Sierra Nevada, my fave US beer,” said Mackenzie. 

In addition to the pale ale, the distillation includes a base spirit and dried botanical mix of juniper, coriander, barley, cassia, macadamia nuts, orris root, lemon myrtle, honey, lavender, ginger, and lemon peel. A bag of Cascade and Chinook hops was also hung above the spirit, extracting the aromatics in a similar way to the botanical basket.

“In a way, this is the closest we’ve come to making a Jenever-style of gin,” said Mackenzie.

“It’s a dense canvas of resin-y juniper with deep brown spice notes. There’s a chewy, malty hop character that hangs onto the macadamia nut and it’s a touch fruity with bright citrus notes, too.”

The free party will take place on Wednesday 17 April from 6pm and will feature musical acts from local bands Floodlights and Back Pocket. To get tickets and to grab a voucher eligible for one free gin and tonic upon arrival head to either the official ticket page or to the Hotel Esplanade’s website.