This fine specimen? That’s my Father, Mario.
That killer physique? That’s from hard work…
“farm - ripped” as we like to say.
Mario worked hard - loved hard - and lived a life
overflowing with family and friends.
And each Christmas, using a secret Sicilian family recipe
and a lot of love, he would make up a small batch
of his famous Hard Espresso as a special gift.
If you were lucky enough to get one,
you cherished that bottle as long as you could knowing
it would be a whole year until you got a shot at another.
Everyone loved it and looked forward to it.
every bottle we make contains Mario’s secret recipe…
handcrafted with the same love and care he put into every one of his.
And just like my Dad’s original, it’s delicious…
crazy delicious if I do say so myself.
So from Mario’s family to yours, we invite you to
live hard - love hard – and cherish every moment with family and friends.
And having a bottle of Mario’s Hard Espresso on hand…
helps make it all a little sweeter.
Pensa Salute’!
MARIO'S HARD ESPRESSO®
An all-natural, ultra-premium artisan espresso liqueur with authentic heritage; handcrafted in very small batches - by and for coffee lovers.
MORE THAN A BRAND
It's a legacy crafted with care
and shared with love.
WE’RE ON A MISSION
To celebrate the joy of togetherness— the crazy moments, the laughter, and the stories that bind us— to raise a toast to genuine connections, honest ingredients, and the shared experiences that make life extraordinary.
HIGHLIGHTS
· Since launch in November 2021, we’ve more than doubled sales YOY
· Over 300 accounts and 15,000+ bottles sold
· Over $200K in revenue in 2023 throughout CA, NV and NH
· Strategic partnerships in place with Total Wine + More and SYSCO among others
· Awarded full distribution status from the NH Liquor control in November 2023
· Multiple Gold and Platinum awards from top spirits competitions and 95 pts from the Tasting Panel
· Passionate family ownership team is dedicated to sharing their authentic family legacy with the world
THE MARIO’S HARD ESPRESSO "CORPORATE" FAMILY
Joe, Mario’s son, has had a 35+ year career as a Writer, Director, Producer and Cinematographer in the Commercial, Film and Television Industry, and is a member of both the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG). Since creating Mario's Hard Espresso and launching the brand in November of 2022, Joe has spearheaded a grassroots sales and marketing campaign that has grown to over 300 accounts in three states and over 25K followers on social media.
Joe Grasso - Founder / CEO
Aaron, Mario’s Grandson, is a start-up founder, Director of Photography and Producer with over 16 years of marketing and advertising experience in Film and Television. He's created award-winning campaigns for globally recognized brands and helmed companies, including a Motion Picture camera rental studio and a Cinema Robotics venture. He architected logistical systems which facilitated the global distribution and operation of his remote production systems in 50+ cities globally.
Aaron Grasso - COO
Sarah, Mario’s granddaughter, has spent the last 15 years as an Experiential Marketing executive creating campaigns for a wide variety of brands across CPG, entertainment, and lifestyle industries. Prior to her most recent role leading Brand Experience production for Apple TV+, Sarah led production on the Moet Hennessy and Diageo accounts at NVE Experience Agency where she concepted and produced a multitude of brand launches, consumer activations, field marketing and more initiatives for some of the worlds most recognizable spirits brands.
Sarah Zimmerman - CMO
THE CHALLENGE
The current leading coffee liqueurs are made from cheap coffee or cold brew, rather than espresso. The few true espresso liquors on the market are not domestically produced in the US. With brand stories concocted by marketers, they lack authenticity that the consumer craves to feel connected.
THE MARIO'S SOLUTION
Based on a 60-year old Sicilian family recipe, MARIO'S HARD ESPRESSO® uses real espresso, triple-distilled neutral grain spirit and organic Madagascar vanilla— creating a rich and balanced profile that has received multiple gold and platinum spirit awards and been enthusiastically embraced by restaurateurs, bartenders, and consumers alike. MARIO'S HARD ESPRESSO® is produced in California by Mario’s actual family members—
doesn’t get more authentic than that!
COFFEE IS KING
AND THE PEOPLE WANT MORE
This can be seen with the resurgence in popularity of the espresso martini, which has officially dethroned the Manhattan as one of the most popular cocktails in the US.
The $21.4B global craft spirits market size reached 29.4% Compound Annual Growth Rate, outpacing non-craft spirits, and is expected to more than double by 2030.
The market has also seen a massive 44% increase in coffee-liqueur consumption, making it one of the fastest growing niche flavor profiles.
Mario's shines in both of these categories, setting the stage for accelerated growth!
THE MARIO’S HARD ESPRESSO DIFFERENCE
28% ABV
Espresso Roast. Unlike our primary competitors, Mario’s Hard Espresso is made using only sustainable and ethically sourced 100% Arabica Dark Roast Espresso coffee.
Organic Madagascar Vanilla. We tested nearly a hundred vanillas before choosing the Pure Organic Madagascar Vanilla you taste in each sip.
Grain Neutral Spirit. Our use of 196 proof Grain Neutral Spirit, rather than the typical low-proof vodka, tequila or rum truly sets us apart from the competition. The silky, odorless GNS results in significantly less dilution and creates an exceptionally well-balanced liqueur with a higher ABV and smoother finish. This makes for an excellent stand alone spirit in addition to an incredibly versatile cocktail ingredient.
Mr. Black - 25% ABV Imported from Australia. Cold brew coffee blended with vodka. High in sugar. Purchased by Diageo in 2022 for an undisclosed sum.
St. George Nola Coffee Liqueur - 25% ABV
Made as a New Orleans style coffee liqueur with Ethiopian Cold Brew coffee blended with vodka. Known for it’s strong coffee and chicory flavors.
Kahlua - 20% ABV Made in Veracruz Mexico with rum as the base-spirit. Kahlua has been a staple at bars and restaurants for many decades. Very sweet and syrupy, and uses artificial coffee flavorings.
PRESS & AWARDS
DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
THE TASTING PANEL MAY/JUNE 2023
95 Points.
With a neutral grain spirit base, dark roast espresso, Madagascar vanilla, and cane sugar, this satin-textured liqueur is produced in small quantities, but we predict a surge of growth. On its own, it flows with dark chocolate flavors and a balanced coffee taste with absolutely no bitter edge. Founder Joe Grasso’s father’s recipe lives on.
FORBES
“In an era where espresso martinis are as popular as ever, Mario’s Hard Espresso is making its own long list of friends and loved ones.”
UPROXX
"The expression is a literal distillation of a son’s love for his immigrant dad""Mario’s Hard Espresso’s flavors are clarified in a way that far exceeds other entries in the genre" "My bottle was gone in a week — I can’t remember the last time that happened."
INSIDE HOOK
“Espresso Martinis… are one of the 10 most ordered cocktails… and smaller batch brands like Mario’s Hard Espresso… are making the beloved cocktail even more potable.”
SALES: PAST & FUTURE
All of our sales efforts to date have been grass roots. Without much resource, the product has spoken for itself:
· More than doubled sales from 2022 to 2023.
· Over 300 accounts and 15,000+ bottles sold
· Awarded full distribution status from the NH Liquor control
WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'RE GOING
ONWARD AND UPWARD!
MARKETING APPROACH
On a shoe-string budget, Mario’s Hard Espresso has been winning over critics and fans since its inception, boasting prestigious medals and garnering a 26k+ strong following on instagram.
With a dedicated marketing budget, Mario’s is ready to create a replicable market strategy that will build brand recognition across California and beyond. Key components include:
· Dedicated Marketing/PR Agency for strategy + implementation
· Enhanced social media presence + paid advertising
· Retail and event activations for ‘liquor to lips’ consumer sampling
· On premise education for industry influencersDirect to consumer email campaign
· Continued press and award exposure
MARKET COMPARABLES
Over the past few years we have seen a number of highly successful acquisitions and exits in the spirits industry, with transactions in the hundreds of millions, even billions. Below are some recent examples:
Mr. Black - Cold Brew coffee-liqueur, imported from Australia. They entered the US Market in 2015 with the help of a strategic partner, Distilled Spirits. In 2022, Mr. Black was acquired by Diageo (a company valued at $108B) for an "undisclosed sum”.
Don Papa Rum - A Philippine Rum with Coconut notes. It was purchased by Diageo in 2023 for $281mm with incentives to reach $473mm based on 250,000 case sales and a 33% CAGR.
Howler Head - A unique banana flavored bourbon. After reaching $6.7mm in 2024 sales Campari invested $15mm in the company for a $100mm valuation.
THANK YOU
The story of Mario’s Hard Espresso is an authentic human story, one that is rooted in love and sharing, and steeped in tradition.
Over the past 2 years, we’ve shared our story and poured Mario’s for thousands — Mario’s has been embraced in ways that have been nothing short of sensational.
This raise will allow us to accelerate our current momentum, transforming Mario’s Hard Espresso from a passion project into the global market leader of espresso liqueurs.
If you are interested in learning more about investing in the company, please contact: invest@drinkmarios.com
or visit our investment portal HERE.
Pensa Salute!
