The Swiss stone pine, also known as the Arbe or Arve, is an evergreen tree that has been native to the Alps since the last Ice Age. It can grow up to 25 metres tall and live for up to 1,000 years. The Swiss stone pine grows at altitudes between 1,300 and 2,800 metres and, due to its ability to withstand temperatures as low as minus 43 degrees Celsius, is the most frost-hardy tree species in the Alps.

Swiss stone pine schnapps, made from the cones of the Swiss stone pine, is traditionally believed to have healing properties for stomach complaints and asthma. Zirm Zirbenschnaps is produced by the fourth generation of the family according to a time-honoured recipe, using ripe Swiss stone pine cones from the Zirbitzkogel region. These cones, known as ‘ZIRMtschurl’, take two years to mature and are hand-harvested at an altitude of 1,600 to 1,900 metres above sea level. Austrian grain spirit is used as the base for the schnapps, followed by a defined ageing process and multiple filtration stages. The product is a pure, natural product containing no chemical additives.