Marzadro Zirmol (Pine Cone) Liqueur 5CL

Born from the ashes and poverty of post WW2 Northern Italy, Marzadro Distillery was not an overnight success. Bored with her job as a domestic servant, Sabina Marzadro founded the business in 1949. It was a hard slog but Sabina had two big things in her favour:  Pristine botanicals of Italy’s alpine Trentio region and a burning desire to make great grappa.

Slowly but surely Marzadro perfected their skills, developing some of Italy’s finest grappas and adding liqueurs, amaro, whisky, cremes and herbal distillations along the way.

Nowadays run by Sabina’s grandchildren, Marzadro is based in the beautiful mediaeval mountain village of Nogaredo, nestled in the Dolomites just north of Lake Garda. Their drinks are top quality, commanding massive respect in Italy’s hard to impress distilling sector. Artifex hold by far the UK’s biggest range of their products.

Italy, along with France is probably the world leader for food and drink quality. Mediocrity just isn’t tolerated at all.  Marzadro’s Zirmol (Pine Cone) upholds these standards and then some.

An authentic alpine elixir from Trentino, Marzadro Zirmol beautifully captures the pristine essence of the Italian mountains. Crafted to a traditional recipe, this unique liqueur features an alcohol content of 30% ABV and is presented in a 5 cl bottle.

Tasting Notes

On the nose, Marzadro Zirmol opens with an intense, enveloping, and distinctly balsamic aroma that transports you directly to a snow-capped forest. The palate is wonderfully delicate yet aromatic, showcasing a perfect harmony between the deep, structural warmth of traditional Italian pomace spirit and the clean, resinous notes of mountain pine. It leaves a remarkably refreshing, light, and silky sensation that lingers elegantly on the finish.

Distilling Methods

Today, the third generation of the Marzadro family runs the operation from a striking, state-of-the-art facility featuring a magnificent ring of copper bain-marie stills operating under a grand glass dome. To create this particular liqueur, the distillery utilizes a 30-day cold maceration process. Hand-selected shoots and pine cones of the Swiss stone pine (Cirmolo), harvested from the high altitudes of the Dolomite mountains, are carefully infused into a premium Grappa base. This patience-driven process perfectly extracts the natural alpine oils without applying heat, preserving the genuine botanical character of the mountain flora.

Serving & Cocktail Suggestions

Marzadro Zirmol is traditionally ideal as a digestif to ensure a light and balsamic end to a meal, best enjoyed neat or over a single large ice cube at a cellar temperature of 18°C. For a contemporary cocktail alternative, use it to put an alpine twist on a classic gin and tonic, or pair it with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and a splash of sparkling prosecco for a lively, aromatic Alpine Spritz.

Food Matchings

This liqueur makes a magnificent accompaniment to rich chocolate desserts, particularly a dark chocolate fondant or forest-fruit tarts. The clean, crisp pine notes cut beautifully through the richness of dried fruit cakes, almond pastries, and traditional Italian panettone. For a savoury pairing, it provides a brilliant contrast when served alongside mature, earthy mountain cheeses or a platter of cured meats.