We are excited to introduce you to our latest creation, ‘East Meets West’. This fragrant gin-based cocktail features premium tonic, Middle Eastern floral notes and blood orange citrus bursts. It is our vibrant interpretation of the classic Gin & Tonic.
Recent beverage industry trends suggest that forgotten favourites such as Sherry, Port and Brandy are making a comeback. This is in part thanks to the rise of premium quality tonics which creative and discerning drinkers are using to breathe new life into those spirits.
Gin is another old-favourite which continues to hold its ground in the constantly evolving world of spirits. We appreciate good quality gin and like to experiment with mixing our own cocktails.
We love a good challenge and so when we were approached by luxury tonic brand, Franklin & Sons to participate in their ‘Me & T’ cocktail challenge, we were excited by the chance to create something new.
Our assignment was to create a drink which combines a tonic mixer with a spirit of our choice. The winning entry would be featured on the drinks menu at Hilton London’s 146 Paddington bar.
Although we had a few ideas, it helped that we had previously attended one of Franklin & Son’s mixology masterclass events. We had been inspired just from watching mixologists create some interesting tonic-infused drinks using botanicals such as dried rosemary and pink peppercorn.
We asked our friend Nicola Fyffe, a talented food stylist from Coco & Ginger to join our creative team. She came up with some bold ideas and after a few trials, we eventually arrived at our final result which we have called ‘East Meets West’.
East Meets West is a meeting of cultures, in this case represented by Middle Eastern and Western botanicals. The ingredients work to complement each other, highlighting how cultures can interact without confrontation, each playing to the strengths of the other.
This drink is a delicate yet refreshing Gin & Tonic cocktail, made with a mix of Franklin & Sons natural tonic water, blood orange and subtle notes of hibiscus, cassis and rose. Crisp and clean, this blend of Middle Eastern botanical flavours and citrus zest gives Daffy’s Gin a fresh and delicious taste, with sweet spring notes.
Simply serve with lots of ice and garnish with dried roses petals and slices of blood orange for a luxurious finish.
We hope you enjoy this recipe. We think it would be great for spring parties and events. If you do try it, tell us what you think in the comments below or find us on Instagram and engage.

Servings | Prep Time |
1 person | 4 min |
Cook Time |
4 min |
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This fragrant gin-based cocktail made with premium quality tonic, Middle Eastern floral notes and blood orange citrus bursts is sure to leave a refreshing feel!
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- 50 ml Daffy’s Gin
- 200 ml Franklins Tonic water
- 9 Dried juniper berries
- 6 Dried hibiscus flowers
- 10 tsp or 60mls blood orange juice
- 2 tsp Cassis
- 4 tsp Fruit sugar or regular sugar
- 1 sliver Blood orange rind (4 inches long) *Curl rind
- 2 slices Blood orange
- 1 tsp Blood orange juice
- 1 tsp Dried rose petals
- Ice to fill the glass
- Ring the glass lip with 1 x tsp. of Blood orange juice
- Roll the edge of the glass in Fruit sugar to coat.
- Place the two orange slices to the side of the glass
- Fill the glass ¾ with ice
- Add the Hibiscus, juniper berries, blood orange juice and cassis.
- Then add the gin and top with the tonic water
- Give the cocktail a stir before garnishing with orange rind and roses petals.
*Serve in a large Copa de Balon glass