Real coffee. Real chocolate. A shared commitment to craftsmanship and community.
Every exceptional spirit begins with a choice.
At Conrad Distillery, those choices extend beyond the ingredients we use. They include the people we work with, the communities we support and the values we share.
Our latest collaboration brings together three Australian businesses, sustainably sourced Peruvian coffee and a connection forged through military service.
The result? A new chapter for our much-loved Conrad XO Café Coffee Liqueur.
Great coffee liqueur begins with great coffee.
For XO Café, we have selected Operation Viracocha Peru Single Origin, a medium-roast coffee sourced from sustainable farms in Peru and roasted in Australia by Bray St Coffee Roasters for Outpost Advocacy.
Its flavour profile is exactly what we look for:
Big, smooth milk chocolate notes, a gentle nutty undertone and a beautifully rounded finish.
The medium roast provides the depth we need without overwhelming the coffee’s natural character.
For a spirit built around real coffee and chocolate, that balance matters.
The beans undergo a carefully controlled 24-hour cold-brewing process at Conrad Distillery, allowing us to extract their rich coffee character before incorporating the brew into XO Café.
The result is a smooth, expressive coffee foundation that complements our triple pot distilled vodka and real chocolate.
Sometimes the most meaningful business relationships begin with a shared experience.
In July 2026, Conrad Distillery was recognised as a finalist in the Agriculture & Rural Community category at the VetCon26 Awards.
The event brought together veteran-owned businesses and people who understand that military service shapes far more than a career.
It was through this veteran business community that we connected with Bray St Coffee Roasters and Outpost Advocacy.
As a former Royal Australian Air Force avionics electrician, I understand the bond that exists between those who have served.
Military service instils values that remain long after the uniform comes off: integrity, courage, discipline, expertise and a commitment to something greater than ourselves.
Those values don’t disappear when we enter civilian life. They become part of how we build businesses, make decisions and support one another. This collaboration reflects that shared understanding.
Behind every meaningful partnership are people with stories worth telling.
Outpost Advocacy, co-founded by Greg Jenkins, is one such organisation.
For Greg, Outpost Advocacy is more than a business. It represents the continuation of his parents’ legacy and a deeply personal response to challenges he has experienced.
That sense of purpose resonates with us.
The transition from military service into civilian life can bring new opportunities, but it can also present unexpected challenges. The connections formed through the veteran community provide a powerful foundation for moving forward.
Working alongside businesses that understand service, resilience and community gives this partnership significance beyond the ingredients in a bottle.
We encourage you to discover more about Greg’s story and the purpose behind Outpost Advocacy.
Our decision came down to two things: exceptional flavour and shared values.
We needed a coffee that would complement the established character of XO Café.
Our previous coffee supplier, a talented local roaster, closed their roasting business to pursue a career in the legal profession. Finding a new supplier gave us an opportunity to explore another Australian roasting partnership.
However, we weren’t looking to reinvent XO Café.
We wanted to preserve the flavour our customers already enjoy.
Operation Viracocha’s medium roast, chocolate-forward profile and gentle nutty character proved an excellent match.
The transition has maintained the familiar flavour of XO Café while introducing a new connection to the veteran business community.
It is a reminder that change doesn’t always need to mean changing what people love.
Sometimes, it means finding an even better way to create it.
At Conrad Distillery, we believe the quality of a spirit begins with the integrity of its ingredients.
Our XO Café is crafted using:
Real coffee, cold-brewed for 24 hours
Real chocolate, adding richness and depth
Conrad’s triple pot distilled vodka, providing a refined spirit foundation
No added sugar or artificial chemical additives
We don’t believe exceptional flavour needs unnecessary shortcuts.
The coffee contributes its natural chocolate and nutty characteristics, while real chocolate adds another dimension of richness.
Our vodka brings the elements together without overpowering the coffee.
Each ingredient has a purpose.
Together, they create the distinctive character of XO Café.
One of the pleasures of this partnership is that you can experience the coffee in its own right.
Operation Viracocha Peru Single Origin is available to purchase through Frannkly Roasted.
Enjoy it as your morning coffee, explore its milk chocolate and nutty notes, or discover how those same characteristics contribute to Conrad XO Café. Discover Operation Viracocha Coffee Beans
You can also learn more about the Australian roasting craftsmanship behind the beans at Bray St Coffee Roasters.
At Conrad Distillery, we have always believed that great businesses are built through collaboration.
From the growers cultivating coffee in Peru to the Australian roasters preparing the beans, from the veteran community creating new opportunities to the distillers crafting the finished spirit, every contribution matters.
Our partnership with Bray St Coffee Roasters and Outpost Advocacy reflects something we value deeply.
The best collaborations don’t simply produce better products. They create something people can be proud to support.
For us, XO Café is more than a coffee liqueur. It is an expression of craftsmanship, connection and shared purpose. And that is something worth raising a glass to.
Debra Spence is the Founder and Master Distiller of Conrad Distillery, an award-winning Australian distillery dedicated to sustainability, innovation and transforming rescued wines into premium spirits.
