Four Pillars collaborated with The Sand Hill Road Group to make the first in their planned series of Melbourne Icon gins to celebrate the reopening of the grand old Espy.

Our label design is a homage to the venue today and as it once was — a rundown, grungy haven for some of the best underground punk-rock bands in Melbourne, with its carpet sticky with the beer of a thousand spilled pots.

The label design is a careful amalgamation of both Four Pillars Gin and Esplanade Hotel brand elements. Behind which, an archival photo of the venue can be seen as a subtle water-mark, as well as a hand-written list of Melbourne punk-rock brands that cut their teeth at The Espy back in the day.

The reversed side of the label (the sticky underside!) features 3 original hand-drawn gig posters by south-side legend Fred Negro, which were discovered during the Hotel renovation — Their placement on the sticky underside of the label is an appropriate tribute to a venue that contributed so much to the underground music scene of Melbourne.

Sticky Carpet was initially planned as a gin to be served exclusively at The Esplanade Hotel. Since its release, the hype around the gin, particularly on social media, has lead the Four Pillars team to a limited re-release at their Distillery Door.