Mr Black is an Australian cold-brew coffee liqueur — dark, bittersweet and built around real specialty coffee — and it is poured at Grappa in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Made by a roastery and distillery north of Sydney, it trades the cloying sweetness of older coffee liqueurs for the bracing clarity of a proper cold brew. We keep it on the list for a beautifully modern after-dinner pour and for the espresso-style cocktails it was practically made for.
About the Producer
Mr Black was founded in 2013 by designer Tom Baker and distiller Philip Moore, who set out to make a coffee liqueur that tasted like the coffee culture they loved rather than a sugary afterthought. The brand roasts and distills at its own roastery and distillery in Australia, treating coffee with the same seriousness a winemaker gives grapes. Its specialty-grade approach helped reshape how bartenders and drinkers think about coffee in a glass.
Style & Production
Mr Black is made by cold-brewing specialty-grade arabica coffee and blending it with Australian grain spirit, with far less sugar than traditional coffee liqueurs. The cold-brew method draws out deep, aromatic coffee character while keeping harsh, over-extracted bitterness at bay. The result is a liqueur that drinks like serious coffee with a spirited backbone — rich and roasty, but clean and notably less sweet.
Tasting Notes
Expect a deep aroma of freshly brewed coffee and dark chocolate, with a hint of berry brightness. The palate is rich and roasty, only lightly sweet, with the clean bitterness of good cold brew carrying through. The finish is dry and lingering, more like a great cup of coffee than a candy — exactly what makes it so versatile.
What to Pair It With
Its coffee-and-chocolate depth is made for dessert. Pour it alongside Mama’s Tiramisu, with our Flourless Chocolate Cake, or over a scoop from our Gelato/Sorbet selection. See the full dine-in menu for more.
How It’s Served at Grappa
Mr Black is poured at $12, served neat, over ice, or in a cocktail such as an Espresso Martini.
FAQ
Where is it from?
Mr Black is an Australian coffee liqueur, roasted and distilled at its own roastery and distillery north of Sydney.
What does it taste like?
It tastes of rich, freshly brewed coffee and dark chocolate, with a clean cold-brew bitterness, only light sweetness, and a dry, lingering finish.
What makes it different from other coffee liqueurs?
It is made by cold-brewing specialty-grade arabica coffee with far less sugar than traditional coffee liqueurs, so it drinks like serious coffee rather than candy.
When you’re ready, book a table, explore the cocktail & spirits list, and browse the dine-in menu.
