When you think of gin, you tend to think of delicate expressions with refind hints of botanicals, being sipped in sophisticated locations. You don’t think of loud bands, darkened room and beer-soaked floors
Well, until now. You see Four Pillars are looking to change all that with the release of their Sticky Carpet Gin.
Every city has those great venues where the music is loud, the beer is flowing and you don’t really want to look too carefully at the carpet on which yopu are walking. In Melbourne, the bar was the the famous Hotel Esplanade in St Kilda.
Last year the ‘Espy’ went through a remodel and was reopened but the guys at Four Pillars wanted to create a tribute to this Melbourne icon and a general tribute to Australia’s great hotels and in particular, their front bars.
So how to you create a flavour that encapsulates carpets sticky with beer and thick with stories? Well, Four Pillars co-founder and distiller, Cam Mackenzie said: “Rather than just using our base spirit we have added a few litres of a local roasted dark stout (Watt’s River) to add some malty, toasted character.”
Touted as a ‘gin for beer lovers’, Sticky Carpet Gin. Will do more than simply take you back to thoise simplier times, whej it was all about the music, the night our and your friends. This is a gin that adds depth, spiuce and tropical brightness.
“We then filled the stills with juniper, coriander, honey, roasted barley (another beer-y ingredient), cassia, green pepper, orris root, and Cascade Hops (there it is again). The botanical basket contains fresh lemon peel and ginger.
“After coming to the boil, we kept all plates open for the first half of the distillation before closing the plates and introducing some reflux in the latter half. This allows for the hops and honey characters to come through early, and the darker characters late.
“It’s an unusual gin. You get some lovely depth from the stout/barley and cassia, and spice from the pepper and ginger. The hops, lemon and coriander introduce some brighter tropical and citrus notes.”
Aside from the gin itself, the Sticky Carpet Gin label also pays its respect to the spirit and heritage of The Espy, celebrating the music legends who have passed through the doors of the Melbourne icon.
“The team at Sand Hill Road (proud new custodians of Hotel Esplanade) gave us access to an incredible collection of genuine old band posters that are relics of the Gershwin Room gigs of the past – each one an original,” said Four Pillars co-founder, Matt Jones.
“We used these artworks on the underside of the label – another nod to the rich history of this grand old pub,”
Andy Mullins, one of the directors of Sand Hill Road said: “We jumped at the opportunity to produce a special gin for the Espy with Four Pillars, and they really understood our vision to create something that was both a respectful nod over the shoulder to all who went before us, and a lit flame to light the path for all who forge ahead.
“Since we re-opened Hotel Esplanade in December 2018 the Sticky Carpet Gin has been a huge hit, and we love that its really become part of the story and identity of this much-loved venue. We’re excited that drinkers around Australia will now be able to experience a little bit of the Espy in their homes.”
To celebrate the release of the gin, the brand have come up with some tasty cocktails that you can easily mix up at home.
Hawksmoor Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew
Perfection on a hot day, with a big whack of ginger to boot.
Ingredients
- 50ml fresh lemon juice
- 50ml Ginger syrup
- 30ml Four Pillars Sticky Carpet Gin
- 6 ice cubes
- Pale ale of your choice
Instructions
Put all ingredients except pale ale into a blender. Blend until cubes have dissolved and dump into frozen beer mug. Top with frothy pale ale and enjoy
The Sticky Carpet Pub Squash
A fresh spin on an absolute classic pub sipper could only be done with a gin inspired by the best pub of all time.
Ingredients
- 30ml Sticky Carpet Gin
- 15ml Bianco Vermouth (Regal Rogue/Lillet Blanc/Dolin)
- 15ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- Fever-Tree Lemon Tonic
Instructions
Build in a rocks over ice
Garnish with an orange crescent and a thyme sprig
Sticky Carpet Gin Honey Pot
Sweet, spice and all things nice. The Sticky Carpet Gin Honey Pot hits all those notes, with a velvety texture to boot.
Ingredients
- 50ml Sticky Carpet Gin
- 30ml fresh lemon juice
- 10ml orgeat
- 5ml honey water (1:1)
- 5ml ginger syrup (1:1)
Instructions
Add ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake then fine strain into a rocks glass
Garnish with a honey stirrer dripping in honey
Sticky Carpet Sea Bath
Enjoy our Sticky Carpet Gin in this gorgeously balanced Sea Bath cocktail, with salted pineapple that makes you feel as if you’re on the front porch of The Espy, lapping up that fresh beach breeze.
Ingredients
- 50ml Sticky Carpet Gin
- 20ml Dry Vermouth
- 5ml *Salted Pineapple
Instructions
Stir and strain into Nick & Nora
Garnish with an orange twist
*Salted Pineapple
Prep time: overnight
Ingredients
250g Fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks
250g Caster sugar
250g Water
10g Sea salt
Instructions
Dissolve caster sugar and salt into water. Add pineapple chunks and leave covered in the fridge overnight. Once ready, strain off pineapple. Bottle and refrigerate
