A Sydney startup distiller is bringing Australian coffee culture to the forefront of the nightlife scene by launching the world’s best coffee liqueur – MR BLACK.

Sick of Mexicans claiming high prices for their inferior booze and ‘coffee’ style products, it took the team at MR BLACK more than six months, 300 iterations, and blending coffee from three continents to lovingly craft a cold drip coffee liqueur that tastes like damn fine coffee. The new tipple was recently launched at an inner-city Sydney startup bar, Nixon Project.

Feel the vibe with this video: 

Founder Tom Baker (above), comments: “In Australia we’re serious about our booze and specialty coffee, so the idea was to combine two much loved slices of contemporary culture into one cracking drink.  MR BLACK is the dark side of coffee: your morning hit with a naughty nocturnal twist. Australia is home to some of the world’s best coffee, so it was about time we had a world-class coffee liqueur to match.”

The hard work was not in vain with the team picking up a Gold Medal at the London International Wine & Spirits Competition and taking the title of ‘World’s Best Coffee Liqueur.’ The Australian-made liqueur is now available in more than 250 bars, bottleshops and restaurants across the country.Catering to a nation of coffee connoisseurs and recognising that Aussies have never been shy of a tipple, MR BLACK is the brainchild of Phillip Moore and Tom Baker, two men in a shed, who used crowd-funding website ‘Pozible’ to turn their idea in to a reality. 

Distiller, Phillip Moore said: “Our coffee liqueur has always had a great little cult following, but it’s great to see it get into the hands of more drinkers around Australia.” Previously only available at selected cocktail bars and bottle shops in Melbourne and Sydney and testament to this dynamic duo’s success, MR BLACK is now sold nationwide.

It’s not just the drink that is a work of art, the bottle is a masterpiece too. Partnering with Sydney artist Dale Bigeni the 700ml bottle reveals a striking owl design that has become an icon for the brand and is revealed only as the liquid is consumed. Made exclusively in tiny batches of 300 bottles, each MR BLACK is individually numbered allowing drinkers to note the subtle changes that occur due to the seasonality of the specialty coffee used to make the spirit.

MR BLACK is best enjoyed simply served over ice. It is also the perfect ingredient for the ultimate Espresso Martini, for classic coffee cocktails (MR BLACK Russian anyone?) and some more unusual but delicious concoctions including the MR BLACK Ryeball.  Made from 100 percent Australian grain spirit MR BLACK can be mixed magnificently with the likes of rum, tequila and Absinthe.

Mr Black's back-story:

In 2012 when craft gin was the next big thing, two men in a shed started making coffee liqueur and MR BLACK was born. With its office in Sydney and distillery in Erina, MR BLACK is now leading the Australian craft spirits renaissance with their hand crafted caffeinated wünderdrink.

Founded by distiller Phillip Moore and designer Tom Baker, their namesake product MR BLACK was awarded the gold medal in their first outing at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London. This award with the highest accolade ever achieved by an Australian liqueur.

Tom Baker is the director and co-founder of MR BLACK. A designer by trade, he has worked on many of the world’s largest alcohol brands for Diageo, CUB, Beam and Pernod Ricard.

Phillip Moore is the head distiller and co-founder of MR BLACK. Phillip has run Distillery Botanica in Erina for the last seven years, winning numerous national and international awards for his distilled creations. 

More information....

     Introduce Mr Black to your friends:

MR BLACK ESPRESSO MARTINI

45ml Mr Black

30ml Vodka (or gin, rum or tequila)

This bev tastes top shelf with many spirits from the back bar.

Measure all ingredients into a cocktail shaker full of fresh ice. Shake vigorously until thick foam develops. Strain into chilled glass. Drink often.

MR BLACK’S HARD ICED COFFEE

60ml Mr Black

120ml fresh skim dairy milk

Measure all ingredients into a cocktail shaker full of quality fresh ice. Shake lightly and strain into ice filled glass or pretentious Mason jar. Make this bad boy navy strength with a 10ml dash of your favourite dark rum.

MR BLACK RYE-BALL

30ml MR BLACK

15ml Campari

20ml Overproof Rye Whisky

Bittermen Chocolate Bitters

Stirred and served over big ice, garnished with lemon peel twist