Four Pillars Gin Maker Session 2026: Distil Your Own Gin in Healesville

Distil your own gin, then drink what’s left of everyone else’s, one Saturday morning a month at Four Pillars.

Four Pillars runs a hands-on Maker Session on the first Saturday of the month, ten people distilling a batch of gin from scratch under a distiller’s eye, and Healesville sits a short twenty-five minutes from Yarra Valley Lodge.

About the Four Pillars Gin Maker Session

Held in Coral’s Loft, the private mezzanine overlooking the distillery floor, the Maker Session runs monthly from July to December 2026. You’ll add botanicals to Four Pillars’ micro-still, Coral, hear the story behind the brand, and taste the spirit as it comes straight off the still, alongside five gins from the core range. Breakfast is part of it too, bagels and gin-steeped orange marmalade with tea or coffee on arrival.

What you distil gets bottled and posted out afterwards, alongside a bottle of Rare Dry Gin, tonic and marmalade to take home on the day.

How to get there

Four Pillars sits in Healesville, about 25 minutes from Yarra Valley Lodge, in the same stretch of town as several other distilleries, wineries and restaurants worth wandering between.

Good to Know

• Places are limited to just 10 people per session, worth booking well ahead through Four Pillars’ own site.
• This hands-on tasting experience is built for adults.

Make it part of your stay

Bring the take-home bottle back to your room and tuck it away for later, it’s one to enjoy properly once you’re home rather than opening on the night. For a drink there and then, head down to Lodge Bar and let our team mix you a Yarra Valley Lodge gin and tonic to compare against the one you made that morning. Keen to explore further? Our guide to the region’s breweries, cideries and distilleries has plenty more to add to the rest of the stay.

FAQs

What’s the best place to stay for a Four Pillars Maker Session?
Yarra Valley Lodge is close enough to Healesville that the morning session leaves the rest of the day free.

What do I take home from the session?
A bottle of Rare Dry Gin, tonic and orange marmalade on the day, plus the gin you personally distil gets bottled and posted out afterwards.

Is in-room dining available at Yarra Valley Lodge?
Yes, in-room dining is available if you’d rather unwind after the morning session without heading out again.

How far is Yarra Valley Lodge from Melbourne?
About 45 minutes, close enough for a weekend away without losing half a day to the drive, plenty of time left for a Maker Session and everything else on the itinerary.

Image credit: Visit Victoria