Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Launched 2013 in Sydney. The Espresso Martini revival (2019 onward) was the catalyst — when every bar needed a coffee liqueur, quality differences became impossible to ignore. Mr. Black is the product that proved the specialty coffee movement had changed consumer taste to the point where old-school coffee liqueurs were no longer good enough for cocktail culture.
Flavor Profile
Roasted-Coffee primary, Bitter-Medicinal secondary. 'Espresso rather than café au lait.' The roast, the origin, the elevation where the beans were grown — present and legible. Minimal sweetness — structural rather than dominant. The Espresso Martini with Mr. Black is a cocktail; with Kahlúa it's a dessert.
Key Producers
25% ABV; the standard for quality-focused coffee cocktails; changed the category