The world’s leading international gin producer, Yarra Valley-based distiller Four Pillars, will open its Surry Hills ‘Laboratory’ officially on Friday, June 12 the eve of World Gin Day.
The Four Pillars Laboratory at 410 Crown Street, Surry Hills in the Bussell Brothers building will incorporate a Gin Shop, Gin Lab featuring a working experimental still (Eileen, named after co-founder Matt’s mother), and a destination cocktail bar, Eileen’s Bar.
All three elements will be open for business from Friday, June 12 ready for what has been unofficially re-named ‘World Gin Weekend’. To celebrate, Four Pillars is putting together a weekend of activities, masterclasses and cocktail-fuelled fun for Sydney’s keenest gin lovers to toast the responsible relaxation of lockdown.
The overarching development of the Surry Hills Laboratory has been led by Four Pillars Co-founder Matt Jones and Experience Director Leah Mackenzie, in concert with Yasmine Ghoniem from YSG Studio (formerly Amber Road). Eileen’s Bar is the love child of Four Pillars Creative Drinks Director James Irvine, who collaborated on the bar design through virtual reality with world-leading, Oslo-based bar design agency Behind Bars, led by Jaye O’Dwyer.
The Gin Shop on the ground floor will feature all the signature and limited-edition gins that have made Four Pillars Australia’s favourite gin producers, alongside the bar gear, books, merch and Made From Gin marmalade and chocolate that we all know and love.
The Four Pillars Gin Shop will be open from 10am-6pm every day.
Upstairs from the Gin Shop, in the Gin Lab, the first thing to catch the eye is the 70L German engineered Carl copper still, Eileen, ready to make small batches of bespoke gin in a subtly-lit room that will host bookable gin, distiller and cocktail masterclasses. As is tradition in the Four Pillars world, Eileen is named after Matt Jones’ mother and was in situ at Four Pillars Distillery in Healesville for the past three years before making her journey to Sydney earlier this month. The Lab also features its own full bar sitting proudly beneath four stunning fiberglass sphere pendants, a tribute to the signature four dots of Four Pillars.
The Lab will offer all-day gin drinks for walk-in customers including the much-loved Four Pillars G&T Paddle (three different gins, three garnishes and a bottle of Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic) alongside a collection of gin classics including a regularly-changing martini, a perfect Negroni and a drink likely to become a Surry Hills brunch favourite, the spicy Little Red Snapper.
The Four Pillars Gin Lab will be open from 10am-6pm every day.
Look out for a separate, discreet door on the corner of Fitzroy and Crown Street, where keen-eyed visitors will spot a doorstep with four projected dots upon it and a simple copper brick welcoming you inside. If you can open the door, then Eileen’s Bar is open for business.
Climb the ‘Juniper Blue’ stairwell and you’ll find a bar that combines aesthetic beauty, superb cocktail-making capabilities, delicious gin drinks (plus a few not-gin drinks too) and Four Pillars’ own trademark warmth and hospitality.
Eileen’s Bar is simply Four Pillars’ dream gin bar come to life. At its heart is a stunning asymmetrical, Juniper Blue concrete bar with three bar stations and 20 perfectly-positioned stools, the best seats in the house to see your gin drinks being made. There will also be tables for small groups, comfortable banquettes and a set of three cosy two-tops in the shadows at the back of the bar (our very own ‘Tinder Alley’).
James Irvine has designed a drinks menu of gin classics and modern masterpieces utilising the full Four Pillars family of gins. There is also a range of snacks designed by Made From Gin maestro Matt Wilkinson and a curated selection of beer, cider and wine from several of Four Pillars’ best mates in the business.
Eileen’s Bar will be open from 5pm-midnight, Wednesday through Saturday.
Gin lovers wishing to visit Eileen’s Bar or book into a masterclass at the Gin Lab should subscribe to receive email updates by visiting www.fourpillarsgin.com. Notifications about World Gin Weekend bookings for Eileen’s Bar and the Gin Lab will be sent to website subscribers from Monday, June 1.
Please note: Current capacities in the Gin Shop, Gin Lab and Eileen’s Bar will be restricted according to NSW state-mandated Covid-19 protocols so numbers will be strictly limited.
The Four Pillars Gin Lab officially commences trading on Friday, 12 June 2020 from 10am.
Eileen’s Bar officially commences trading on Friday, 12 June 2020 from 5pm.
WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON WORLD GIN WEEKEND AT THE FOUR PILLARS LABORATORY
IN SYDNEY’S SURRY HILLS?
THE GIN LAB
Four Pillars gin masterclasses hosted by Co-founder Stuart Gregor.
Co-founder and Gin Lab Licensee, Stuart Gregor, will be in the Gin Lab hosting SEVEN masterclasses for just 10 guests each, over the Opening Weekend.
Each masterclass will run approximately 60 minutes with a welcome G&T included, tasting of at least four gins (probably more), plenty of stories, some random music and a world-first look around the venue and at Eileen the still and Eileen’s Bar.
Each masterclass will be priced at $75 per person.
Friday, June 12. 4pm and 6pm.
Saturday, June 13. 12pm, 2pm, 4pm.
Sunday, June 14. 2pm and 4pm.
Tickets for the World Gin Weekend Inaugural Masterclasses will be made available initially to subscribers only, who can join the Four Pillars family at www.fourpillarsgin.com. Subscribers will receive ticketing information on Monday, June 1.
EILEEN’S BAR
Eileen’s Bar will be open from 5pm Friday, 12 June and Saturday, 13 June for a maximum 24 guests who will be invited for a 90-minute visit.
Seating times both dates will be 5pm, 7pm and 9pm.
Again tickets for the world-first sessions at Eileen’s Bar will be made available initially to subscribers only who can sign up for email updates at www.fourpillarsgin.com. Subscribers will receive ticketing information on Monday June 1.
Future bookings for events and masterclasses will be made easily by subscribing to www.fourpillarsgin.com or by emailing sydlab@fourpillarsgin.com.au (for Gin Lab Masterclasses) or EileensBar@fourpillarsgin.com.au (for Eileen’s Bar bookings).
QUOTES from the brains behind The Four Pillars Laboratory:
Matt Jones – Four Pillars Co-founder, on the overall vision for the Four Pillars Laboratory:
“At our Four Pillars Distillery home in Healesville, Cameron and his team make the best gin in the world. When we thought about what we wanted to bring to Sydney, we were determined to take that same passion for making, creativity and experimentation and focus it on the delicious drinks you can make with our gins. And we wanted to serve it all up with our signature love of warm hospitality and beautiful design. The result is the Four Pillars Laboratory in Surry Hills, a delicious playground for Sydney’s gin lovers and a new bucket list destination for gin fanatics around the world.”
Leah Mackenzie – Four Pillars Experience Director, on the site and venue:
“The site appealed because of its character and its industrial roots,” says Leah of the two-storey freestanding chocolate brick landmark, constructed in 1939 for the Bussell Brothers tea company as Australia shook off the Great Depression. “Essentially we are producers so we love an industrial vibe. So while our Distillery is in Healesville we wanted to still have that maker feel here in Sydney. It’s being honest about who we are. We always want to bring people closer to what we do. In terms of the aesthetic, we looked to combine a bit of edge from Melbourne with the sophistication of Sydney, while allowing the base building to shine. Ultimately we just want it to be welcoming and warm, with no pretense. Just a really beautiful, comfortable, warm and happy place to be.”
Yasmine Ghoniem – YSG Studio, on Eileen’s Bar:
“We wanted to envelop the guest, the patrons at the bar. And make them feel like they never wanted to leave. It was about creating this magical beacon in the middle of the space so everyone could get to enjoy the bar and it wasn’t just one part of the venue, but it was the whole of it.”
James Irvine – Four Pillars Creative Drinks Director, on the drinks and delivery:
“The Gin Lab menu highlights the perfection of simplicity through some of our favourite signature serves and classic drinks. Eileen’s Bar focuses on a variety of drink styles, ingredients, producers and techniques, taking into consideration new gin releases, season and of course sitting in the space itself. Both menus stay true to the brand promise of being fun, approachable and foremost – delicious. We look forward to seeing you at the bar.”
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