Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin is the house classic from Four Pillars in Healesville, Victoria. It is built around whole Australian oranges, juniper, coriander, cardamom, star anise, cassia, angelica, lavender, lemon myrtle and Tasmanian pepperberry, with a style that is bright, dry and immediately recognisable. The orange is not a sweet flavouring; it gives lift to the gin and makes the spice feel warm rather than heavy.

On the nose, orange peel and juniper arrive first, followed by lemon myrtle and a clean coriander note. The palate is fuller than a very austere London Dry: citrus oils give width, cardamom and star anise add warmth, and pepperberry leaves a dry, lightly spicy finish. It remains a gin for proper mixed drinks because the juniper is clear from start to finish.

In a collection, this bottle is useful because it explains the Four Pillars style without needing a complicated serve. It works for drinkers who want a gin tonic with real citrus character, but it also has enough spice and structure for a Martini, a Collins or aperitif-style cocktails where the gin must stay visible.

The Perfect Serve should stay simple and cold: tonic, plenty of ice and an orange garnish. Orange makes sense because it follows the main botanical rather than adding a new direction. A dry Indian tonic keeps the finish clean and lets the pepperberry, lemon myrtle and cardamom show after the first citrus impression. The import-ready version uses 9 cl of Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water, with orange wedge.

It is also a useful reference bottle for comparing other Four Pillars gins. Rare Dry shows the citrus-and-spice base before fruit, cask or special releases change the balance, so it gives visitors a clear starting point for understanding the range.

For search and tasting notes, the useful keywords are simple and true: Australian orange, juniper, lemon myrtle, spice and dry tonic. Those are the flavours a visitor can reasonably expect to find in the glass.