Four Pillars is not a brand that needs much of an introduction in the Australian spirits world. Since launching in the Yarra Valley in 2013, they have built a reputation that extends well beyond gin enthusiasts into the broader drinks culture. Their Rare Dry Gin has won more awards than most distilleries see in a lifetime, and their approach to botanicals, that distinctive combination of fresh whole oranges, cardamom, lavender, and star anise alongside the classic juniper backbone, has made them one of the most recognisable gin producers in the Southern Hemisphere.
So when Four Pillars decided to enter the alcohol free gin space with their Bandwagon range, the expectation was reasonably high. The question worth asking honestly is whether they have brought the same craft and intention to their non-alcoholic expressions as they have to their full-strength range, and whether the result belongs in your fridge.
The short answer is yes. But the longer answer is more interesting.
What Is the Four Pillars Bandwagon Range?
The Bandwagon range is Four Pillars' dedicated non-alcoholic line, developed specifically for drinkers who want the experience of a quality gin-based drink without the alcohol. Rather than simply dealcoholising their existing expressions, Four Pillars approached the Bandwagon range as a separate product development challenge: how do you create something that delivers the aromatic complexity and the satisfying mouthfeel of a gin-based drink at zero alcohol?
The answer involves a blend of botanical distillates, natural flavour extracts, and careful formulation designed to replicate the sensory experience of drinking gin without relying on alcohol as the carrier for those aromatics.
Two expressions are currently available through Sans Drinks: the Bandwagon Dry and the Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz. They are genuinely different from each other in character and occasion, and they are worth understanding separately rather than treating them as variations on the same product.
Four Pillars Bandwagon Dry
This is the expression for the gin drinker. The one you reach for when you want a G&T experience, when you are mixing drinks for a group and want something that sits naturally in the same glass as the full-strength options, or when you simply want a crisp, botanical, and genuinely satisfying drink that does not compromise on flavour to achieve its zero-alcohol credentials.
What it tastes like:
The Bandwagon Dry opens with a botanical nose that is immediately recognisable as Four Pillars territory. Fresh citrus, a hint of lavender, and the classic juniper character that defines the gin category are all present, though they present slightly differently than in the full-strength Rare Dry Gin. The orange element, one of Four Pillars' signature moves, is here too, lifting the nose and adding a brightness that makes the drink feel fresh rather than flat.
On the palate, it is where most non-alcoholic spirit expressions face their toughest challenge: delivering body and texture without the viscosity that alcohol provides. The Bandwagon Dry handles this better than most. There is enough weight to the liquid that it does not feel watery, and the botanical complexity comes through with enough clarity to make it genuinely interesting to drink rather than simply functional.
The finish is clean and relatively dry, which suits the format well. You want a G&T mixer that does not leave a lingering sweetness, and this one does not.
How to serve it:
The Bandwagon Dry performs at its best mixed with a quality tonic. Use the same tonic you would use with a full-strength gin rather than a cheap substitute, because the quality of the tonic matters even more in an alcohol-free mix where the spirit cannot compensate for a flat or artificial topping.
Serve over ice with a large slice of orange or a twist of grapefruit peel. The citrus garnish amplifies the orange botanical character and makes the drink smell like a proper gin and tonic before it ever reaches your lips.
Suggested ratio: 45ml Bandwagon Dry to 150ml premium tonic. Adjust to preference.
Works well with: Tonic water, soda and a squeeze of lime, light cucumber and mint combinations, elderflower tonic for a slightly more aromatic build.
Honest verdict: One of the better alcohol-free gin alternatives currently available in Australia. It does not perfectly replicate the Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin experience, and it would be unrealistic to expect it to. What it does is deliver a botanical, aromatic, and genuinely satisfying drink that earns its place on the bar cart on its own terms. For G&T occasions, group entertaining, or simply your own Monday night preference, it holds up.
Four Pillars Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz
This one needs a little more context, because it is a genuinely unusual product and it helps to understand what it is before you open the bottle expecting something familiar.
The full-strength Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin is one of the most celebrated expressions in the Australian gin canon. It is made by macerating whole Yarra Valley Shiraz grapes in their Rare Dry Gin for eight weeks each vintage, which produces a gin with a deep ruby-purple colour, a rich berry and spice character, and a complexity that sits somewhere between gin and something else entirely. It is not like anything else in the category.
The Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz is the non-alcoholic interpretation of that concept, and it is correspondingly more complex and more unusual than the Dry expression.
What it tastes like:
The colour alone is striking: deep ruby-purple that looks nothing like a conventional gin product and immediately communicates that this is something different. The nose is rich with dark berry, a hint of pepper, and the botanical character of the Four Pillars base running underneath.
On the palate, the dark fruit character is the dominant note, with Shiraz-influenced flavours of blackberry, dark cherry, and a soft spice sitting alongside the gin botanicals. It is rounder and more generous than the Dry expression, with a fuller body that comes partly from the grape maceration character being retained in the formulation.
The finish has a gentle persistence that most non-alcoholic spirits simply do not achieve. It does not disappear the moment you swallow. There is a lingering fruit and botanical note that makes the drinking experience feel more complete than the flash-and-gone quality of many alcohol-free alternatives.
How to serve it:
The Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz is considerably more versatile than it might initially appear. The obvious serve is over ice with soda water and a slice of orange, which lets the Shiraz fruit character and the botanical complexity come through cleanly.
It also works exceptionally well in longer drinks with ginger beer, where the spice of the ginger complements the dark fruit and pepper notes in the Bandwagon. A splash of citrus, lemon or lime, brightens the whole thing and adds a freshness that keeps it from feeling heavy.
For something more considered, try it with a premium tonic and a few frozen dark cherries as both garnish and flavour. The cherries echo the Shiraz character and the whole drink feels deliberately crafted rather than simply assembled.
Suggested serve: 45ml Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz over ice, topped with premium ginger beer, a squeeze of lemon, and a slice of orange.
Works well with: Premium tonic, ginger beer, soda water, citrus, fresh or frozen dark berries.
Honest verdict: The more adventurous and genuinely original of the two expressions. The full-strength Bloody Shiraz Gin is celebrated for good reason, and while the non-alcoholic version does not replicate it precisely, it captures the spirit of the concept more convincingly than you might expect. If you have ever enjoyed the original, this is the non-alcoholic expression most likely to scratch a similar itch. If you have never tried either, this is a fascinating introduction to a flavour profile that does not exist anywhere else in the alcohol-free category.
How Do They Compare to Each Other?
Both expressions are genuinely worth having, and they suit different occasions and different moods.
|
Feature |
Bandwagon Dry |
Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz |
|
Primary character |
Botanical, citrus, juniper |
Dark berry, spice, botanical |
|
Body |
Light to medium |
Medium, rounder |
|
Best serve |
G&T, tonic and orange |
Ginger beer, soda, dark fruit garnish |
|
Finish |
Clean and dry |
More persistent, berry and spice |
|
Occasion |
Every day, aperitif, group entertaining |
More considered, evening drinking, curious drinkers |
|
Who it suits |
The gin drinker who wants a direct G&T substitute |
The adventurous drinker who wants something original |
If you are building a home bar that covers both casual and more considered non-alcoholic options, having both is genuinely worthwhile. The Dry covers the everyday G&T territory. The Bloody Shiraz gives you something to reach for when the occasion calls for something with a little more personality.
Is Four Pillars Bandwagon Worth Trying?
The honest answer is that the Bandwagon range represents one of the more serious attempts at non-alcoholic gin from a producer with genuine credentials in the full-strength category. Four Pillars has not simply slapped a well-known name on a generic non-alcoholic spirit and hoped the branding would do the work. The Bandwagon expressions carry a recognisable Four Pillars botanical character and have been developed with the same attention to flavour that the brand's full-strength range is known for.
They are not perfect replicas of their alcoholic counterparts, and expecting them to be would be setting an unfair standard. What they are is genuinely enjoyable, well-made non-alcoholic drinks that earn their place in the glass on their own merits rather than as stand-ins for something else.
For alcohol free gin exploration, for group entertaining where not everyone drinks, or simply for occasions where you want something botanical and satisfying without the alcohol, both Bandwagon expressions are absolutely worth trying.
Serving Tips That Make a Difference
A few practical notes that apply to both expressions:
Keep them cold. Both Bandwagon expressions show at their best well chilled. Store in the fridge and serve directly over ice rather than at room temperature. The aromatic character is more vivid and the overall drinking experience more satisfying when everything is cold.
Use good ice. Large cubes or a single large ball melts more slowly than standard ice, which means less dilution and a more consistent flavour across the entire drink. For a premium non-alcoholic spirit, it is worth treating the ice as seriously as you would for a full-strength cocktail.
Match the garnish to the expression. Orange and citrus for the Dry. Dark berries, orange, and spice for the Bloody Shiraz. The garnish adds aroma that arrives before the first sip and sets the expectation for what follows. It is not decoration. It is part of the drink.
Do not over-dilute. Non-alcoholic spirits lack the viscosity of alcohol, which means they can feel thin if over-diluted. Err on the side of less tonic or soda rather than more, particularly on the first pour. Adjust from there to your preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Four Pillars Bandwagon taste like gin?
The Bandwagon Dry has a recognisably botanical character with juniper, citrus, and the signature Four Pillars orange present in the profile. It reads as gin-inspired rather than as an exact replica of a full-strength gin. Most drinkers who enjoy gin find it familiar and satisfying. The Bloody Shiraz is more of its own thing and suits drinkers who want something original rather than a direct gin substitute.
2. Is Four Pillars Bandwagon completely alcohol free?
Both expressions are formulated as non-alcoholic products. Check the label for the specific ABV declaration, as trace amounts below 0.5% ABV may be present in some formulations using botanical distillates.
3. Can I use Four Pillars Bandwagon in cocktails?
Yes, both expressions work well in cocktails. The Dry suits any recipe calling for a botanical gin component. The Bloody Shiraz suits cocktails that benefit from dark fruit, spice, and a berry character. Negroni-style builds, sours, and longer drinks all work well with both.
4. Where can I buy Four Pillars Bandwagon in Australia?
Both the Bandwagon Dry and the Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz are available through Sans Drinks with delivery across Australia.
5. How does Four Pillars Bandwagon compare to other alcohol-free gins?
It sits at the more credible end of the non-alcoholic gin category. The Four Pillars brand brings genuine botanical expertise to the formulation, and the result is more complex and more interesting than many generic non-alcoholic spirit products. For Australian drinkers specifically, the Bloody Shiraz expression is unique in the category and has no direct equivalent from other non-alcoholic producers.
