He’s smooth, he’s suave and he’s bringing his Espresso Martini Festival back to Melbourne: Meet Mr Black.

Clear your diary from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November when we’ll see Mr Black return once again for Melbourne’s favourite caffeine-based, foodie, and all-round celebratory festival of those beloved boozed-up beans.

Mr Black is a winning combination of bitter and cuttingly cool elements; the top-grade Arabica beans and unaged, straight wheat spirit working in rare union. Delicious on its own – try the Double Black, a large pour of the liqueur – or in a cocktail, each one at this event is a treat. Coconut Dreams is a silky, sugary concoction cut smoothly with a caffeinated finish featuring Mr Black, Pampero Rum, Coffee, Monin Coconut and coconut milk. If you’re searching for all-out extravagance, go for the Monin Salted Caramel Espresso Martini which is served with, wait for it…. a donut atop.
The festival launch was set in the achingly cool Whitehart Bar, a former carpark plot transformed into an industrial, yet attractively open-air multi-level bar featuring food trucks and a steel deck looking out over the alley. A very Melbourne place to enjoy the taste of the city’s favourite drink, in boozy cocktail form.

Tom Baker, the founder of Mr Black, has grander events to come still. After saying that this year’s festivities will be, ‘bigger, better and boozier’ than last year’s, his forecast does not disappoint. This year Melbourne’s Meat Market will accommodate four different areas dedicated to the espresso martini including a Tiki Bar in the gardens and an Everleigh Bottling Co. Speakeasy Bar.
No self-respecting Melbourne event is complete without a stellar line up of food to accompany your beverage. Melbourne favourites flocking to the festival to serve up deliciousness includes Zeus St Greek and, naturally, Butter Mafia – nothing could be more devilishly indulgent than to follow an espresso martini with a brownie.
Mr Black Espresso Martini Festival
3-5 November
The Meat Market
5 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne
Get your tickets here