The Dreamer: A Herb-Driven Gin & Tonic Twist

Most Gin & Tonics start from the same place: a dry gin, a standard tonic, a citrus wedge. The Dreamer keeps the classic structure, but changes where the flavour work is done.

Instead of buying a flavoured tonic, this serve takes a neutral tonic and turns it into a house ingredient infused with basil, tarragon and lemongrass, then pairs it with The Botanist Islay Dry Gin and a single pandan leaf. The format stays familiar – long, cold, sparkling – but the aromatic direction becomes greener, more culinary and more “bar kitchen” than “bar rail”.

Why It’s Called The Dreamer

The Dreamer was designed for in-between moments: when a guest is not in a hurry, but also not ready for a heavy, spirit-forward drink.

It is:

• Long and easy-to-drink, so it can sit on the table while someone talks, thinks or plans.

• Familiar in format (a Gin & Tonic), so it feels safe even to conservative guests.

• Detailed on the nose (herbs, pandan, layered botanicals), so it quietly rewards slow sipping.

During R&D and service tests, this drink behaved like a quiet companion: guests tended to slow down, drift a little into their thoughts, and start talking about ideas, projects and “what’s next”. The name The Dreamer reflects that mood – a glass for people who are half in the bar, half in their own world.

Idea and Flavour Direction

On paper, The Dreamer is extremely simple:

• Base: 40 ml The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

• Mixer: 120 ml Dreamer tonic (herb-infused tonic)

• Garnish: Pandan leaf

• Glass: White wine glass

• Technique: Build and churn

  
  

In the glass, it behaves like a structured herb garden:

• Basil: adds lush, green volume and a slightly Mediterranean feel.

• Tarragon: contributes a clean anise note that connects naturally with some of the more aromatic botanicals in The Botanist.

• Lemongrass: brings linear citrus and a dry, high-pitched freshness, keeping the drink bright and focused.

• Pandan (garnish): sits mostly on the nose, framing each sip with soft vanillic, rice-like aromatics.

The result is dry, vertical and refreshing, with a clear line from first aroma to final aftertaste.

Why The Botanist Islay Dry Gin?

The Dreamer is not a “use any gin” template. It has been calibrated around The Botanist Islay Dry Gin for three main reasons:

1. Botanical alignment: The Botanist is built on a complex botanical structure, including 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals layered over classic gin botanicals. Basil, tarragon and lemongrass feel like a natural extension of that profile rather than an extra layer forced on top.

2. Structure in a tall drink: In a long, highly carbonated serve, some gins disappear. The Botanist has enough structure and character to remain clearly present, so the guest still experiences the drink as gin-led rather than as a flavoured soft drink.

3. Dry, clean finish: Even with an aromatic tonic and pandan on the nose, The Botanist keeps the finish neat and crisp. That dry closure is important for an aperitivo-style serve that should invite the next sip, not fatigue the palate.

In short: the tonic tells the story, but The Botanist shapes the narrative and signs it.

The Tonic Water

The real innovation of The Dreamer lies in the tonic.

A neutral tonic is infused with basil, tarragon and lemongrass, then clarified and re-carbonated to create a clean, precise, herb-driven mixer. This technique gives control over intensity, direction and mouthfeel, turning a commodity product into something that genuinely belongs to the bar.

For the full method – including exact ratios, blending strategy, filtration and carbonation tips – the tonic has its own technical guide:

To learn exactly how to create it, read the full Dreamer tonic recipe and technical guide.

Once the tonic is prepared and chilled in the siphon, service speed is almost identical to a classic Gin & Tonic.

Recipe: The Dreamer

Glass: White wine glass

Ice: Solid cubed ice

Method: Build and churn

Ingredients

• 40 ml The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

• 120 ml Dreamer tonic (herb-infused tonic)

• 1 pandan leaf (garnish)

  
  

Method

1. Chill the glass with a vortex: Fill the white wine glass with ice and stir or churn to create a cold vortex. Once the glass is well chilled, discard any meltwater.

2. Set the pandan garnish: Place the pandan leaf on the rim of the glass according to your service specification. It should sit close enough to the guest’s nose that every sip picks up its aroma.

3. Add the tonic first: Measure 120 ml Dreamer Tonic Water and pour it gently into the chilled glass. Adding the carbonated element first protects the bubbles and makes the build more controlled.

4. Add the gin: Pour 40 ml The Botanist Islay Dry Gin over the tonic, ideally down the inside of the glass, to minimise agitation and preserve carbonation.

5. Pack with ice: Add cubed ice until the glass is about ¾ full. Dense, solid cubes help slow dilution and keep the structure tight.

6. Churn gently: Using a bar spoon, churn from bottom to top a few times. The goal is to integrate gin and tonic into a single, even mix without knocking out too much CO₂.

7. Final check and serve: Adjust the pandan leaf if needed, wipe the base of the glass, and serve immediately while the drink is very cold and the aromatics are at their peak.

   
   

Where It Lives on a Menu

• Guest profile: Ideal for guests who always order a Gin & Tonic but are ready for “something similar, just more interesting”.

• Occasion: Aperitivo, welcome drink, or as a signature long serve in a gin-focused or “herb and garden” section of the menu.

• Operational impact: Once the Dreamer tonic is prepared as part of mise en place, the build itself is as fast as a standard G&T. The complexity sits in prep, not at the station.

Positioned this way, The Dreamer acts as a bridge: it keeps the comfort of a familiar long drink while quietly introducing guests to a more culinary, technique-driven way of thinking about gin-and-tonic style serves.

For more pieces like this, explore our signature cocktail articles.

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Written by: Riccardo Grechi | Founder & Beverage Director of The Double Strainer