Dark & Minty flips the usual coffee-cocktail script. Instead of leaning into richness or dessert-like depth, this drink goes light, cooling, and surprisingly refreshing. Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur brings roasted coffee flavor without heaviness, while peppermint schnapps cuts through with a clean, cooling lift that instantly brightens the drink. A small amount of dark rum adds warmth and structure, keeping the cocktail grounded without weighing it down.

Finished with club soda and served tall over ice, Dark & Minty drinks more like a refreshing highball than a traditional coffee cocktail. It’s low on sweetness, high on balance, and easy to return to. This is the kind of drink that works just as well in the afternoon as it does early evening - a calm pick-me-up rather than a nightcap.

Shaken or Stirred? Shaken, then topped. The shake integrates the coffee and mint cleanly before lengthening with soda.