The Flour Factory, Perth – Spin for Gin

The Flour Factory, Perth – Spin for Gin

Australia is so far away and yet so close. The world is so well connected that the trends regarding spirits and cocktails seem similar everywhere around the globe. Australia’s gin renaissance is coming on in leaps and bounds. More and more Australian gins are entering the market. Gin is King and ubiquitous.  I had my first encounter in a bar that is dedicated to one of the broadest categories of spirits.

The Flour Factory has an impressive back bar of both local gins and ones from around the globe. A large window and a neon sign welcome you to the 100-year-old flour mill. A historic flour mill has been converted into a three-storey venue for food and gin. Okay, there is also beer and wine beside the gin & cocktail list but the eye-catching element for me was the massive Gin Wheel. “Spin For Gin” and get a Gin & Tonic for 12 AUD. There are 24 brands you can land on and they are changed on a regular basis. A perfect opportunity to discover the world of gin. Apart from that, the wheel has a huge fun factor and I watched the guests curiously spinning the wheel and exchanging experiences with each other.

 

The bar itself is the smallest part of the place. You will find a comfortable dining area with food ranging from snacks to main courses. Upstairs there’s a huge function space called The Factory, and a rooftop bar named The Sherry. A perfect place for after work, eating and riding the current gin wave.

The Flour Factory has a casual charm and a nice mix of industrial and loft style.

For me, it was time for a gin-based libation. Have a guess which cocktail I had in mind! I ordered an Aviation based on a local gin. There is a rich choice of handcrafted juniperous distillates from award-winning distilleries at the moment, with exciting botanicals, ants and other curiosities. The lovely female bartender took a few bottles, smelled and gave me some samples now and then. In the end, she opted for Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin. Juniper, coriander, cardamom, lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepper berry leaf, cinnamon, lavender, angelica, star anise and, most unusually of all, fresh oranges. It turned out to be a good bartender’s choice.

Here is the recipe:

5 cl Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin

2.5 cl Lemon Juice

1 cl Maraschino Liqueur

0.7 cl Bigallet Creme de Violette

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Put a maraschino cherry in the glass. It is like the sunset over the sky. The Four Pillars suited the Aviation perfectly with its hints of lavender and the freshness of the oranges. The gin itself appears as a citrus-heavy gin paired with a fine spiciness and floral notes. Juniper is more in the background, overall, smooth and nicely tuned. The local botanicals they use are Tasmanian pepperberry, lemon myrtle, the exotic ones are cinnamon, cardamom, coriander seeds and star anise and of course the classic botanicals juniper, lavender, and angelica root. Whole oranges give the gin its flavour profile.

The story and philosophy of Four Pillars is very intriguing. Good quality, craftsmanship and sustainability is the key to its success. Four Pillars stand for the still, the water, the botanicals and love. The gin is made in a small distillery in Yarra Valley, Australia using copper-pot stills manufactured by Carl in Germany. They make six gins so far and they are available on the German Market (and in my home bar ;)) Gin Gin!