Four Pillars’ new gin distillery in Healesville has officially opened its doors. The expanded distillery, gin garden and hospitality experience is directly adjacent to the original home on Lilydale Road, Healesville in the heart of the Yarra Valley.

Designed by Melbourne’s award-winning and sustainability-led Breathe Architecture, the 1000sqm space, has nearly tripled the distillery’s capacity for visitors, and includes an indoor/outdoor gin garden, event spaces, dedicated Four Pillars Gin Shop and a striking newly crafted copper bar.

The new distillery will operate significantly more sustainably with increased use of solar, reduced glass usage, increased recycling and significantly lower carbon and environmental impact. In fact, just this month, Four Pillars announced it was Australia’s first carbon neutral gin business.

Among the sustainable initiatives employed during the new distillery’s construction: recycled and upcycled concrete and bricks, pineapple ‘leather’ upholstery, solar power panels, and landscaping that includes local natives and botanicals. Even the building waste has been given new life.

The main bar will pipe gin directly from production through copper pipes, massively reducing glass waste, meanwhile bottled tonic will be significantly downsized, and replaced by tonic in kegs. It’s said that these two initiatives alone will see the site save 29 tonnes of glass per year.

Catering to around 300 guests at a time with a blend of table, bench, booth and bar-stool seating in Beth’s Bar and Jude’s Gin Garden, the new distillery will mean an end to the weekend queues at the front of the distillery, which had been a common sight over the past five years up until social distancing protocols were enforced.

Floor-to-ceiling windows bring an al fresco vibe to the light-soaked Jude’s Gin Garden, offering views over nearby trees when the weather allows.

Alongside the ever-changing drinks menu – think tasting paddles, classic gin and original cocktails – guests can also expect a new substantial snack menu, designed by Made From Gin Cretive king, Matt Wilkinson and his Yarra Valley sidekick, Caro Gray.

Paying homage to local produce and incorporating Four Pillar’s spent gin botanicals, the menu serves up satisfying, unique share plates like Duck Liver Pate with Bloody Shiraz Gin Jelly, Bagels with Olive Leaf Gin-Cured Salmon and Gin-Laced Potato, Zucchini and Dill Croquettes.

The new premises will also offer an expanded range of bookable experiences including signature gin masterclasses, maker sessions, as well as Four Pillars’ famous G&T&T sessions.

Four Pillars Tuck Shop, which will offer regularly-changing, more substantial food specials on weekends and public holidays, is slated to open later in the year.

Four Pillars Distillery is located at: 2 Lilydale Road, Healesville, Victoria. Open seven days.

For bookings, head to www.fourpillarsgin.com