Australian gin distillery Four Pillars has collaborated with Indian distillery Stranger & Son to create a new expression, Spice Trade Gin.

Said to be more exciting than test series cricket, the release is the result of a unique, colourful and spirited journey by Vidur and Rahul from Stranger & Sons and Cameron at Four Pillars into native ingredients from both lands.

Described as ‘Goan Spice Bazaar, meeting some Aussie natives in a bottle’, the expression is a cornucopia of bright vibrant Indian botanicals and some of our favourite native Australian flavours. It is big, bold, spicy and delicious. This is definitely not a gin for the faint-hearted.

“Spice Trade Gin is quite literally a spice bazaar in a bottle. It is vibrant, aromatic and, if ‘colourful’ was a sense, then it would be that too,” said Four Pillars distiller Cameron Mackenzie.

Sakshi, Co-founder at Stranger & Sons agrees: “We’ve been flagbearers of showcasing India’s agricultural abundance and wanted to share the wonderful spices and flavours that are rooted in India’s heritage. The team at Four Pillars have managed to capture those bold and complex flavours of Indian spices and botanicals perfectly in the Spice Trade Gin.”

Cameron Mackenzie says, “Firstly, it is unmistakably gin. There is a huge weight of juniper which we needed because the power of the botanicals needed a solid canvas. Then you get powerful aromas of finger lime, chilli, cardamom and turmeric sourced from the western mountains (ghats) and coast of India.

“The palate is huge. The weight is built from macadamia and cashews along with sarsaparilla and cassia which hold the spices together. The warming spices of green Szechuan, long pepper, fresh red chilli and black cardamom blend with lemon and anise myrtle to add to the power and depth of the gin.”

Fit for its release in the same week as Holi, India’s annual ‘festival of colours’, this gin is a festival and a celebration. It’s loud, fun, flavoursome and fresh.

Subscribe to the Four Pillars database at fourpillarsgin.com for early access from 16 March. Available more widely at good bottle shops, online, at the Four Pillars Distillery Door in Healesville and the Sydney Laboratory in Surry Hills from 25 March.

Spice Trade Gin will also be available in limited quantities in some of Stranger & Sons’ favourite bars in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Pune in India and selected international markets.

Californian Whiskey distillery Redwood Empire has announced the launch of its new single-barrel program with the brand’s oldest grain-to-glass offering to date.

Crafted and aged in the ancient forests of the Redwood Empire, the programme features a limited number of hand-selected barrels of Haystack Needle Bourbon and Rye.

“We have a deep connection with every barrel we make, and a dedication to quality guides us through every step of the whiskey-making process,” says Jeff Duckhorn, master distiller at Redwood Empire Whiskey.

“We only distil four barrels a day and are focused on crafting spirits that truly express the grain character.”

Offering a distinct harmony of grain, distilling, and ageing, each barrel has been matured in meticulously toasted and charred barrels, allowing the whiskey to develop a balanced flavour profile in the cool Redwood Empire climate.

“These barrels represent what we value in whiskey—a quiet yet steadfast depth with layered influence that holds its own amongst the giants of the spirits industry,” says Lauren Patz, master blender at Redwood Empire Whiskey.

Paying homage to the distillery’s commitment to sustainability and its connection to the natural world, the packaging for the single-barrel program is as striking as the whiskey itself.

Designed in collaboration with Stranger & Stranger, the bottles feature a unique redwood bark texture inspired by the majestic trees of the Redwood Empire.

For more information, go to redwoodempirewhiskey.com

Indian Whiskey brand Paul John Indian Single Malts has announced the launch of its limited-edition 2024 Christmas Whisky.

Produced at the award-winning John Distilleries in Goa, India. This year marking the 7th edition release, this new unpeated Christmas expression has been finished in Caribbean Rum Casks that offer the flavors of spice laced with coconut, candied orange and a dash of toasted oak.

“We are excited to release the 7th edition within our exclusive Christmas Edition series, which we hope will bring joy to whisky collectors during the upcoming holiday season,” said Paul P John, Chairman, John Distilleries Pvt Ltd.

“We have seen an increase in consumer demand and anticipation surrounding each yearly Christmas Edition release, which inspires us at Paul John to continue to raise the bar on the quality of this limited and festive Indian Single Malt,” John continued.

Distilled in the warm tropical climes of Goa, the whiskey is non-chill-filtered and with no added colours or flavours and is created from Indian 6-row barley. 

The Paul John 2024 Christmas Edition Indian Single Malt Whisky is now available at select retailers across the United States.

For more information, go to pauljohnwhisky.com

Kentucky Whiskey brand Makers Mark has launched a collaborative custom blend with two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, NBA All-Star and Miami Heat starting centre Bam Adebayo.

Working on the blend with his mother, Marilyn Blount, the limited-release has been called “Bam & Marilyn’s 1 of 1″ and boasts bold notes of vanilla and baking spice, as well as toasted coconut and a light, bright aroma of honeysuckle and clove.

“My mom is my inspiration on and off the court, and it was a great experience to create our own custom blend of Maker’s Mark,” said Bam Adebayo.  “Bam & Marilyn’s 1 of 1 celebrates what my mom and I both love best about the iconic Kentucky bourbon.”

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Marilyn Blout and Bam Adebayo at Maker’s Mark Distillery

“It was a pleasure to host Bam and Marilyn at the Maker’s Mark homeplace this summer – to share what makes our brand so special and to bring their taste vision of Maker’s Mark to life through the Private Selection program,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark.

“This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to combine our passion for exceptional bourbon with a deep commitment to supporting visionaries who create a positive impact in communities around the country.”

French Cognac brand, the House of Delamain, is celebrating 200 years with the release of L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire. 

Composed of just five rare extra-old cognacs exclusively from the prestigious Grande Champagne terroir, the expression is presented in an iconic 10-litre dame-jeanne beautified by the Parisian Maison d’Art Goossens, famed for its artistic goldsmithing.

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With an impassioned curiosity about the natural world weaved through everything they do, Delamain’s Cognacs are exclusively made from the first Cognac terroir: Grande Champagne, aged in seasoned French oak, and reduced using “faibles” to preserve the spirit’s essence.

The five eaux-de-vie were chosen by successive generations of Delamain cellar masters. The combined expertise of Delamain’s two most recent Cellar Masters was key to showcasing the individuality of the eaux-de-vie and composing a harmonious blend.

For the dame-jeanne, Goossens has adorned it with vineyard bird and organic motifs in a stunning 245-piece sculpture, achieved through seven meticulous stages of craftsmanship, including bronze casting and gold plating.

The dame-jeanne will be auctioned online by Bonhams between November 19th and December 6th. The winning bidder will also receive a 70cl bottle of L’edition Rare du Bicentenaire and be invited along with 3 guests to an immersive experience in Delamain’s Jarnac cellars.

For more information on the House of Delamain, go to delamain-cognac.com

To bid in the auction, go to bonhams.com

Kentucky bourbon brand Four Roses is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its flagship single-barrel offering with the release of its Single Barrel Collection.

The Single Barrel Collection will feature the first three new 100-proof Single Barrel bourbons  – OBSF, OESK, and OESO – alongside the flagship Single Barrel, OBSV.

• OBSV: Mash Bill B (35% rye, 60% corn) with yeast strain V, imparting rye spice, apricot, pear, cinnamon, and toasted oak.
• OBSF: Mash Bill B (35% rye, 60% corn) with yeast strain F, imparting herbal notes, bright rye, apple, vanilla, clove, and cocoa.
• OESK: Mash Bill E (20% rye, 75% corn) with yeast strain K, imparting baking spices, mellow oak, tea leaves, and caramel.
• OESO: Mash Bill E (20% rye, 75% corn) with yeast strain O, imparting rich red fruit, vanilla, brown sugar, and delicate oak.

Each bottle is aged 7-9 years and highlights Four Roses’ proprietary combination of mash bills and yeast strains, resulting in ten distinct recipes for a unique tasting experience.

“We are incredibly proud of the recognition our flagship Single Barrel has received over the last 20 years, so to be introducing our new Single Barrel Collection in this anniversary year is something truly special,” says Four Roses Master Distiller, Brent Elliott.

“Our ten recipes are central to creating Four Roses’ signature mellow spice, and this collection provides the experience for fans to enjoy more of what makes our bourbons special.”

The three new Single Barrels will be available in early 2025.

For more information, go to fourrosesbourbon.com