Several years ago, a woman named Wilma picked up a 1968 copy of the Women’s Weekly magazine and sourced a Christmas recipe without ever knowing it would one day translate into a modern-day classic gin. In 2024, her recipe lives on.

That woman, Wilma Mackenzie, was the mother of Four Pillars Gin Co-founder, Cameron Mackenzie, and the recipe was for a Christmas pudding that Mackenzie’s mum would incorporate into her family’s annual Victoria Derby Day ritual. It was a tradition that Mackenzie would continue with his own kids for several years thereafter, using the exact same recipe as his late mum. One year, after a trip to the shopping centre to collect all the ingredients, Mackenzie kept thinking how well a Christmas pudding would distill. And from there, a new annual Christmas tradition was born.

Once prepared, the puddings – rich with fruit, and spices – were steamed in the copper still named after Wilma, before being sealed in 100-year-old Rutherglen Muscat barrels for a year. The resulting liquid has classic juniper aromatics, a hint of cinnamon and a touch of sweetness from the Muscat. It smells like gin and it tastes like Christmas.

Four Pillars Head Distiller, Sarah Prowse says their Australian Christmas Gin is one of Mackenzie’s most iconic gin creations that dates back to 2016 and the recipe “is one we’ll be passing down for generations to come.”

Why mess with perfection?

Earlier this year, Co-founder, Cameron Mackenzie handed the reins as Head Distiller onto Prowse, and while he may no longer be in the building, the spirit of his mother’s iconic pudding recipe, and the gin it would go on to inspire, will be made for many Christmases to come. 

Every year, the Four Pillars team dresses this special gin in a festive label, and for 2024 it showcases the artistry of South Australian creator, Trevor Smith. A crochet virtuoso, Smith has crafted whimsical and beautifully detailed renditions of his favourite Christmas table items – a Christmas ham, pudding, pavlova and a couple of glasses filled with Australian Christmas Gin Punch. Much like Mackenzie, Smith honed his skills under the tutelage of his mum, Jean.

Also returning this year, are the beloved Christmas Gin puddings, made with gin-steamed oranges and a splash of Australian Christmas Gin. These ginful delights effuse rich botanical flavours, making them the perfect thing to cap off your Christmas feast while enjoying an Australian Christmas Gin cocktail.

“I love Christmas, and I love sipping this gin straight over ice or simply mixed with ginger beer or ale, a squeeze of lime and a dash of bitters,” Sarah Prowse says.

Four Pillars’ Australian Christmas Gin will be available to the Four Pillars email database from Wednesday 23 October and to the public on Tuesday 29 October. It can be found online at fourpillarsgin.com, at the Gin Shops in Surry Hills and Healesville and in select Dan Murphy’s stores.

Images provided.