Australian Christmas Gin is back for 2026, continuing a Four Pillars tradition that began more than a decade ago with co-founder and then dead distiller Cameron Mackenzie and his late mum, Wilma.
Every year, Wilma would make her Christmas puddings on Victoria Derby Day, faithfully following a 1968 Australian Women’s Weekly recipe. Inspired by the family ritual, Cameron wondered what would happen if you took all those rich, spicy, Christmassy flavours and turned them into gin.
Turns out, something pretty delicious takes place, and now, Four Pillars head distiller Sarah Prowse is keeping this ginny tradition alive with Four Pillars Australian Christmas Gin 2026.
To make this special annual release, Prowse distilled all the ingredients needed to make a Christmas pudding (cinnamon, star-anise, coriander seed and angelica over a base of juniper) and finished it off in barrel, then added a hit of 80-year-old Rutherglen Muscat for a bit of richness and complexity.
The resulting gin has aromatics of classic juniper and a hint of cinnamon, backed up with a rich palate and a hint of sweetness from the Muscat.
“We’ve always loved a celebration at Four Pillars and there’s no better way to cap off each year than with our Christmas Gin. I especially love Nick’s Yule-themed cocktail suggestions this time around,” said Prowse.
Every year, the gin is also wrapped in a bespoke artwork that captures an artist’s impression of an Aussie Christmas. For 2026, Sydney-based artist, Kubi Vask, has created a hand-cut collage evoking the colour, ritual and nostalgia of a summer Christmas.
Memories of Christmas are scattered across a tabletop – botanical flowers, a cricket ball and beetle – brought together in a riot of colour, with a traditional Christmas Pudding at the heart of the composition, a nod to the festive family ritual that inspired the gin.
The latest edition of Christmas Gin comes with a bauble gift tag, perfect for gin gifting alongside Made From Gin products, including Christmas Gin Pudding, Sour Cherry + Fresh Yuzu Apple Pickle and Australian Christmas Gin Botanical Milk Chocolate by First Nations and female-owned business Jala Jala.
You can purchase these Made from Gin products by themselves or as part of a range of bundles perfect for gifting to family and friends alike.
The range includes:
- Four Pillars Australian Christmas Gin: $100
- The Ultimate Christmas Gin Bundle: $135. Includes Australian Christmas Gin, Christmas Gin Pudding, Australian Christmas Gin Botanical Milk Chocolate and the Sour Cherry + Fresh Yuzu Apple Pickle
- Christmas Gin & Pudding Bundle: $115. Includes Australian Christmas Gin and Christmas Gin Pudding
- Holiday Pash Cocktail Bundle: $195. Includes Australian Christmas Gin and Chinola and Crawley’s Ginger Syrup
Four Pillars Australian Christmas Gin is available to the Four Pillars database from 21 October and to the public 27 October.
The gin and these bundles can be found online at fourpillarsgin.com, at the Gin Shop in Healesville and select bottle shops.
