Overview: Four Pillars has launched Melbourne Laneway Gin as the inaugural release in its new City Series. Crafted by Chief Distiller Sarah Prowse, the spirit pays tribute to Melbourne’s cultural capital status through a flavor profile blending coffee notes with bright citrus and bespoke street art. The launch marks the debut of the new City Series collection.
The Full Story
Four Pillars has launched Melbourne Laneway Gin as the first release in the distillery’s new City Series. The gin—an idea brewed up by Chief Distiller Sarah Prowse—is a tribute to Australia’s cultural capital. Capturing the essence of Melbourne, from world-class coffee and hidden laneway bars, to colourful street art around every corner, the result is the evening equivalent of a flat white: layered with coffee notes, aromas of dark chocolate, warm vanilla and bright citrus. Distilled across two of Four Pillars’ original stills, juniper, coriander, Proud Mary Humbler-roasted and green coffee beans, fresh oranges, cassia bark, green cardamom, Tahitian vanilla bean, roasted wattleseed, tonka beans and cacao nibs were all added to the pot alongside butter for added mouthfeel and texture.
Beyond the liquid, the bottle itself pays tribute to the city’s creative identity. Melbourne street artist, URSHTRAY, was commissioned to create bespoke artwork inspired by the city’s famous laneways, bringing its distinctive urban culture to life on every label. URSHTRAY said: “Street art is woven into Melbourne’s identity, so it was exciting to create artwork that reflects the city’s colour and creativity. The label is a tribute to the laneways that inspire locals and visitors alike; bold, playful and full of personality. I wanted the artwork to help create a bottle that feels as uniquely Melbourne as the gin inside it.” Assistant Distiller Brett Paulin said: “To make this gin a proper celebration of Melbourne, we knew the coffee had to come from people who really know what they’re doing, so we teamed up with the crew at Proud Mary. We used their roasted Humbler beans for those rich caramel and chocolate notes, along with green coffee beans, which act as a natural fixative and help hold all those essential oils together in the spirit. The distillery already runs on coffee, which is less of a preference and more of a safety requirement, so this one felt pretty natural. The whole place smelled like coffee Jaffa cakes while we were making it, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know. It’ll be unreal in a fancy twist on a Mont Blanc or kept nice and simple in a G&T with orange.”
Production & Profile
The spirit is distilled across two of Four Pillars’ original stills. Ingredients include juniper, coriander, Proud Mary Humbler-roasted and green coffee beans, fresh oranges, cassia bark, green cardamom, Tahitian vanilla bean, roasted wattleseed, tonka beans, cacao nibs, and butter for added mouthfeel and texture. The flavor profile features coffee notes, dark chocolate, warm vanilla, and bright citrus.
Consumer Takeaway
Melbourne Laneway Gin will be available to the Four Pillars email database from 13 August. It will be available to the wider public from 18 August online at www.fourpillarsgin.com, the Gin Shop at the Four Pillars Healesville Distillery, and broader indie retail. A limited amount will also be available in 1L exclusive to Lotte in Melbourne and Brisbane Airports from mid-September. Events scheduled for August 2026 include a “Meet the Makers” event at Proud Mary Coffee Roasters and a G&T Sunday series at Four Pillars Healesville Distillery. Four signature serves are included: Melbourne Laneway Gin & Tonic, Coffee Negroni, Mont Blanc, and Empire of Dreams.
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