Cameron MacKenzie - Four Pillars

Episode 40 - Legacy

Today the Still Magic podcast heads to the Australian state of Victoria to visit Four Pillars Gin, home of world class award-winning gins, internationally acclaimed collaborations and the International Wine and Spirits Competition’s Best Global Gin business in 2019 and 2020.

With a pedigree like that, it’s great to see that Australia has a domestic and international craft spirits powerhouse without peer.

And it is here that I speak with Four Pillars co-founder and distiller Cameron Mackenzie; father of 3 wonderful girls, loving husband, self-confessed kebab-loving larrikin and 1996 Atlanta Olympian.

Cameron’s story and that of Four Pillars, is another Hero’s Journey

Often referred to as ‘the one that makes the gin’ Cameron’s partnership with Stuart Gregor – ‘the one that makes the noise’ – was forged in the wine industry by happenstance. Cameron loved the physical work that his wine-making career demanded. However, his leaders were concerned that without change, the physicality of the role would impact training for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. A few days a week in a marketing role with Stuart Gregor would be just the balance required. And the rest, as they say is history, and with it, an idea that would ultimately become history in the making.

Cameron found himself on a successful career path in wine. But it took him away from the physical side of the industry, the part he loved. Then one day, it was time for a change; the pursuit for an Australian tonic was on. Or so they thought. After taking a good hard look at themselves, followed by a fateful 3am text message, tonic was off the table, but gin was most definitely on; one that reflected Australia, and its place in Asia. A research expedition to the US meant settling on a still from Carl GmbH, mentorship from Dr. Klaus Hagmann, a new found respect for lavender, and a clandestine ‘Breaking Bad’ style venture, using a glass still named Walter

A finer story would be hard to script. So grab yourself a gin and tonic, sit back and join Cameron Mackenzie and I on another craft spirits adventure.

00:33 Showreel –

03:25 Respect –

06:08 Making Gin, Noise and Sense –

10:58 Business success 101 –

11:49 Cash drivers –

12:38 Focus –

15:29 Fantastic distributor –

19:00 Craft with scale –

24:04 Breaking Bad and Sergeant Stu –

31:04 Rare Dry Gin –

34:09 Dr. Klaus Hagmann –

40:01 Bloody Shiraz –

49:09 Prolific high-quality NPD –

51:55 Olive Leaf Gin –

56:36 Expansion plans –

1:03:50 Community –

1:08:34 The ’96 Olympian –

1:13:38 Life influences 1: Stuart Gregor –

1:15:23 Life influences 2: Cathy Freeman –

1:17:04 ’96 Olympic pep talks –

1:21::01 Partnership with Lion –

1:29:18 Craft personified

1:32:38 10Sixty

1:35:32 5 tips for starters

Be bold. Enjoy yourself. Let’s create a new gin narrative.

Still Magic paperback, digital and audio copies available from your favourite online stores

Host: Marcel Thompson    

@stillmagicway [email protected]

Still Magic website

Four Pillars Gin website

Guest contributor: Cameron MacKenzie

Voiceovers: Jules Brooke. 

Contact here Jules Brooke

Editor: Dave Stokes. 

Contact here Author2Audio

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