Under the Lemon Tree gives Mirpuri Gin its most immediately recognisable point of entry: lemon freshness within a Portuguese botanical recipe. The name appears alongside Mirpuri Gin in competition records and on drinks lists, while the producer sells the bottle under the simpler Mirpuri Gin name. It is a 40% gin whose citrus character does not end at lemon. The published botanical list also includes lime, coriander, orange blossom, pink pepper, hibiscus, medronho, thyme and lemongrass, with juniper still at the centre.

That assortment is not a catalogue to taste one plant at a time. Lemon and lime give the opening its bright, direct character. Orange blossom and hibiscus suggest a lighter floral layer, while coriander and pink pepper add a little warmth and definition. Thyme and lemongrass keep the profile herbaceous and fresh rather than candy-like. The medronho connects the recipe to another Portuguese ingredient, but the glass is best understood through its balance of citrus, flowers, herbs and the dry gin base. It is a lively gin, not a lemon-flavoured soft drink in spirits form.

The producer describes small-batch distillation and a modern, cocktail-friendly approach. Those details suit a gin designed to hold its citrus identity when mixed, not merely when nosed neat. In the glass, a first sip brings the citrus into focus before the more botanical notes become clear. The mid-palate has room for the floral and herbal elements; the finish returns to a drier, more aromatic impression. Its Portuguese origin matters in the actual recipe, especially through medronho, rather than serving as an ornamental story attached to the bottle.

For a gin and tonic, use a well-chilled Indian tonic and enough ice to keep dilution gradual. A lemon twist and a single basil leaf in the glass point back to the recipe; repeat them sparingly beside it for an inviting presentation. Start with 4 cl of gin to about 10 cl of tonic and adjust only after tasting. Under the Lemon Tree also suits a simple Gin Fizz, where lemon can be used deliberately and measured against the gin's own citrus rather than piled on for effect.