Paradise in a Glass

Gin’s It!

Everyday’s a school day they say and for me it’s often true. Can you bring me Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz I was asked by one of my friends in France, I can’t get it easily here? When I had figured out it didn’t really involve swearing, I said I’d give it a go. It seems this is an Australian gin and it’s twice been voted Best Gin in the World. Well you could have knocked me down with a feather. They only started in 2013 and by 2019 Four Pillars Gin was named the world’s leading gin producer by the IWSC in London. They won again in 2020, making what they claim is Australia’s favourite gin officially the world’s best.  Call me cobber!

Making it at the other end of the earth does tend to make it pricey and you can find it in posh places like Fortnum and Mason, but less opinion dividing outlets sell it too.  I got mine off an on-line retailer. And knock me down with a feather it was delicious. They make the gin in far flung Oz but that means they have more exotic ingredients than European producers and use native botanicals like lemon myrtle and Tassie pepper and in every gin is a signature use of whole fresh citrus. Yes that’s quite a kick. The bloody part of the name is because the gin is matured in Shiraz wine barrels that give it its distinctive hue. In the end I was really reluctant to hand over the delicious nectar, but I wouldn’t have known about it without John, so fair dos over it went.

This is one of their suggested ways to drink it:

45 mL Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin

100 mL good tonic

Lemon, or grapefruit- (I much prefer the grapefruit, it knocks your socks off)

Add the Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin and tonic to a copa gin glass over loads of ice

Garnish this with a wedge of grapefruit. Simples!

Now all you need is a wonderful glass to drink it from and this is the baby for you. It’s designed to stop the ice cubes melting too quickly that’s why it’s called Glacier. It’s perfect for drinking gin and tonics and gin based cocktails. The Copa glass was designed to trap the aromas of the gin to give you a better taste and allow for loads of ice and lime or grapefruit in the glass to add to the flavour and keep the drink cool. The bowl shape is to stop the ice cubes from melting quickly, diluting the drink.  Magic! And for less than fifty quid this pair of Glacier - Gin and Tonic Copa Glasses come gift boxed. Barman, another Four Pillars Please!

https://www.jamespirie.com/glacier-gin-and-tonic-g-t-copa-glasses-210mm-gift-boxed.html