Barcode Mixer

In this episode, we sit down with Aistis, the mind behind Panamericano, the speakeasy-style cocktail bar known for showcasing spirits exclusively from across the Americas.Aistis shares his incredible journey from Lithuania to Miami — including the life-changing moment he won a green card lottery that opened the door to a new chapter in the U.S. What started as a leap of faith turned into a career built on discipline, curiosity, and a deep respect for hospitality.We dive into the philosophy behind Panamericano’s cocktail program — how limiting the back bar to spirits from North, Central, and South America sparks creativity rather than restriction. Aistis breaks down the balance between technical precision and storytelling, and how intention shapes every drink that leaves the bar.We also explore: The mindset required to grow in a competitive hospitality city like MiamiWhy perspective matters more than hypeHow identity influences creativity behind the barThis conversation is about resilience, opportunity, and building something meaningful far from where you started.A story of craft and cocktails done with purpose.

In this episode, we sit down with Phil and James, the founders of Aphlora Passion Flower Liqueur, a spirit distilled at Big Cypress Distillery that captures the wild, tropical soul of South Florida.Childhood friends turned business partners, these two South Florida natives share the journey from growing up together to creating something truly original. What started as an idea rooted in curiosity and creativity became a beautifully crafted passion flower liqueur — floral, expressive, and unmistakably Floridian.We talk about:How Aphlora was born and why passion flowerThe process of bringing a niche liqueur to life Working with Big Cypress Distillery to refine and distill the productThe challenges of launching a spirits brand in today’s marketRedefining the “Florida Man” narrative through craftsmanship and intentionPhil and James prove that Florida isn’t just headlines and chaos — it’s innovation, culture, and artistry. This conversation is about friendship, risk, identity, and building something meaningful from the ground up.South Florida roots. Real craftsmanship. A liqueur that tells a story.

In this episode, we sit down with Fernando Plata of Big Cypress Distillery to talk about his journey into the world of distillation, the passion behind craft spirits, and the wide range of products he’s helped create and develop.Fernando shares how he first got introduced to distilling, the challenges and rewards of working in the craft spirits industry, and what makes the Big Cypress approach unique. From concept to bottle, we dive into the artistry, science, and storytelling behind each product he’s involved with.Due to unexpected technical camera difficulties during recording, this episode takes on a unique visual twist. Instead of traditional footage, the conversation is presented through animation and comic-book-inspired visuals as an homage to classic Captain America-era cartoon storytelling. The result is a fun, nostalgic style that adds a creative layer to an already great conversation.If you’re interested in craft spirits, entrepreneurship, or hearing how passion projects evolve into full-fledged brands, this episode delivers insight, personality, and a little vintage comic-book flair. Hope you enjoy. Cheers!

In this episode, we link up with Kayla for one of the most unconventional interviews we’ve done yet. Recorded while shooting pool, the conversation carries a laid-back, spontaneous energy that mirrors Kayla’s adventurous spirit and lifestyle.Kayla shares her experience traveling across 16 countries in just 6 months, diving into the cultures, people, and unexpected lessons she encountered along the way. From meaningful conversations with strangers to moments of personal growth and perspective shifts, her journey became more than just travel — it became a catalyst for redefining how she wants to live her life.Fresh back in Miami for only 48 hours, Kayla reflects on reverse culture shock, the emotional highs and lows of constant movement, and how traveling helped her realize she wants to fully pursue life as a digital nomad. We talk about what inspired that decision, the realities behind the lifestyle, and the challenges she now faces as she prepares to take her next steps toward living and working abroad again.This episode is about curiosity, stepping outside comfort zones, and what happens when you give yourself permission to explore the world — and yourself — without limits. Hope you enjoy. Cheers!

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Velazquez from Kaori to talk about his journey behind the bar and the mindset that keeps him grounded in the industry. Alex breaks down his role at Kaori and gives us a peek into the philosophy and creativity behind parts of the cocktail menu.We dive into how he first got into bartending, the importance of authenticity in hospitality, and why staying true to yourself matters in a fast-paced scene. Outside of the bar, Alex shares how he decompresses and resets through his workout routine and the discipline it brings into other areas of his life.A conversation about craft, balance, and staying centered while chasing growth.

In this episode, we sit down with Harry Ortiz, bartender at Sra. Martinez, for a conversation that blends cocktails, cinema, and sound.Harry shares how movies played a huge role in shaping who he is—especially how James Bond influenced not just his taste, but his decision to step behind the bar. From suave on-screen moments to real-life hospitality, we break down how film helped mold his style and approach to bartending.We also touch on Harry’s lesser-known work behind the scenes as a sound guy on several films, talking about life on set, the importance of sound in storytelling, and how those experiences inform his creativity today.We wrap things up by nerding out over some of our favorite shows we’re currently watching and why good storytelling, whether on screen or in a glass, always matters. Hope you guys enjoy. Cheers

In this episode, we sit down with Anays Diaz from Spiribam for a full-on deep dive into the world of rhum agricole. What started as a conversation quickly turned into a spirited (pun intended) geek-out as we explored what makes rhum agricole so unique—from its raw material and production methods to its flavor profile and cultural significance.If you’ve ever wondered how rhum agricole differs from traditional rum, why terroir matters, or why bartenders and spirits nerds hold it in such high regard, this episode is for you. Educational, passionate, and unapologetically nerdy, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about rum beyond the basics.In This Episode, We Cover: • What rhum agricole is and how it differs from molasses-based rum • The role of fresh sugarcane juice and terroir • Production methods and regional influences • Flavor profiles and how to approach tasting rhum agricole • Why rhum agricole has such a devoted following in the spirits worldWhether you’re a bartender, spirits enthusiast, or just rum-curious, this episode delivers knowledge, context, and plenty of enthusiasm.🎙️ Press play and nerd out with us

In this episode we sit down with the very talented Frankie Padilla. Frankie is the General Manager of Bistro 8 (Ohco), a modern Mexican restaurant with a French Bistro feel right in the heart of Little Havana. We talk about what it was like growing up in Miami, the changes we've seen good and not so good, and what appears to be the revival of one of Miami's most historic and beloved neighborhoods. We also have special guest Co-Host Eli Diaz from the Codígo De Barra Podcast, it's always fun when she's around. Hope you guys enjoy and see you next week. Cheers!

In this episode we kick off season 2 with Rebecca Quiñonez, the master mind behind Q Consulting Firm. Rebecca shares stories of how she went from humble beginnings to not only owning her own business but thriving in it. We explore both the beauty and the struggle, and the beauty within the struggle, of growing up as a first-generation American. She holds a wealth of information and is eager to share it with anyone that asks. Definitely no gate keeping here. Hope you enjoy. Cheers! 🥂

✨ NOW POURING: Build Your Own LaneOur final episode of the 2025 run — before we return in 2026.We close the chapter with Courtney Lane, an industry legend whose story is built, not borrowed. From small-town bar beginnings in Gainesville, Courtney worked her way through South Florida staples like Craft Social Club, Baby Jane, 1306, Wynwood Diner, and Employees Only — each stop shaping the next step.We talk about:• Earning your path through consistency and curiosity 🛣️• The transition from behind the bar into spirits distribution & supply 📦• How she paved her own way to becoming Director of Brand Strategy at Atian Gin 🍸A fitting close to the season — a reminder that there’s no single blueprint. You build it, step by step, lane by lane.We’ll see you in the next chapter.

✨ NOW POURING: Stay GoldRecorded right outside our friend Robbie’s mobile bar trailer — with Robbie Ritter and Patricio Garcia currently hosting a cocktail van residency at Hoy Como Ayer.In this episode, we dive into the ecosystem of our industry:• How keeping the dollar within the community sustains all of us 💸🤝• Supporting each other’s side projects and passions as a shared network• Building drink programs that respect their space — the trailer, the food partner, the guests themselves 🍸🍽️Ray sits down with the guys to talk flavor profiles, creativity inside tight quarters, and how a bar program can be either neglected… or overdeveloped to the point it forgets the person on the other side of the stick.A conversation about staying grounded, staying intentional — and staying golden.

🌊 NOW POURING: Let’s Take a DipA conversation with Mitchel Bauer of Drinkable — dropping just ahead of the final Night Swim of the season on December 15 at the Moxy South Beach.Mitchel wears many hats in our world: part of the team at Sexy Fish Brickell, and a voice for Axia Spirit, the leading Mastiha brand in the U.S., championing one of the world’s oldest spirits 🇬🇷🥃.Ray sits in with him to talk about:• The importance of community events for those of us who live and breathe this industry 🤝• Why passion projects become extensions of who we are — and why we say yes to them outside of work 🔥• How connection, creativity, and showing up for each other keeps our scene alive 🌴A perfect warm-up before the last Night Swim of the year.

🧁 NOW POURING: Beauty of Second ActsA Thanksgiving-timed conversation with Aurora Fernández, Pastry Chef of Sra. Martinez in Coral Gables.We slow things down for this one and dive into a story shaped by courage, purpose, and reinvention:• How her passion first led her into hospitality management & governmental work supporting migrant communities 🤝• The moment of trust that changed everything — choosing to go to France to study pastry 🇫🇷• The journey of returning home to begin her next chapter as a pastry chef, fully aligned with who she is and what she loves 💛A reminder that life gives us many chapters — and the second act might be the most beautiful one yet.

☎️ NOW POURING: The Password Is…A sit-down with Kelsey Drevyn, General Manager of Red Phone Booth Brickell — the private member club with a little mystery at the door.We talk about:• Her shift from criminology into the world of hospitality 🔍➡️🍸• How her path led to leading a members-only space built on trust, energy & intention 🔑• The things we overhear at the bar, and the ways we build community around us every night 💬❤️An episode full of spirit, presence, and personality — just like Kelsey.

✨ NOW POURING: We Owe It to OurselvesA sit-down with Shauna O’Neil — a seasoned industry veteran now stepping into her next chapter as founder of Cultor, a ready-made tequila-based cocktail rooted in intention and presence.In this episode, we go deep into:• The responsibility behind creating a product that reflects your life experience and your work 📈• Sustainable living, sober curiosity & the maintenance practices that keep us aligned 🌿• How we show up for ourselves — so we can show up for our guests, our teams, and our craft 🙏A conversation that becomes spiritual, grounding, and fully representative of Shauna, of Barcode Mixer, and of Cultor’s ethos: presence is everything — and we owe it to ourselves.Explore Cultor at drinkcultor.com

🍺 NOW POURING: A New BeginningPart 2 of our conversation with Adam Gersten — the next chapter of the Gramps story.This week, we move from legacy into evolution:• How Gramps expanded into Gramps Getaway 🏝️• The journey from New Schnitzel to what is now Double Luck Chinese 🥠• The vision for what comes after the shutdown of the OG Gramps — and where the spirit of it will live next 🔮If last week was about how it all began, this one is about where it’s going.

🍺 NOW POURING: Beginning of The EndPart 1 of a two-part story with Adam Gersten, the mind behind Gramps — a Wynwood original. Part 2 will be next week's episode!In this first chapter, we go back to the origins:• How Gramps came to be in a neighborhood that was ripe for a cultural institution• The role it played as Wynwood grew, shifted, and built itself around its doors 🌆• What made this place more than a bar — a cultural anchor, a refuge, and a catalyst for community 🎶A look at the place that started it all — before we get into the legacy and what comes next.

Ray y Eli se van a Te Be Determined para sentarse con el Chef Johnny Delgado y conocer la historia detrás de este restaurante que redefine lo que significa un neighborhood restaurant en Miami 🌴✨Conversamos sobre:• Cómo nació el proyecto y la conexión inesperada con uno de nuestros antiguos invitados 🔗• El poder de un equipo apasionado que hace las cosas por amor, no por obligación ❤️• Y por qué este lugar marca la diferencia en cómo vivimos y compartimos la hospitalidad 🥂UN CUENTRO ENTRE FAMILIA — porque al final, todos cocinamos por la misma razón: porque lo llevamos dentro.

🍻 NOW POURING: All Over the PlaceWe sit down with Phil Banach, holding it down with Ariete Hospitality — currently posted up at Taurus while The Gibson Room preps its comeback 🔄.A native New Yorker 🇺🇸 now five years deep in Miami 🌴, Phil joins Ray and Jorge for a crash-out conversation that hits every corner of the map:• The overlap of Miami + NYC and why that mix makes sense 🗽➡️🌴• How neighborhoods grow, change, and what should come with it 🏙️• The evolution of our industry — third spaces, trends, and what each generation brings to the table 🍽️The conversation drifts, loops, and lands everywhere — in the best Barcode Mixer fashion.

🔬 NOW POURING: Gun for HireWe pull up to Robby Ritter’s house which in itself is definitely a bar.We sit with the mad scientist behind Bar Not Found and get to know his prep studio and his mobile trailer bar, Robby lets us into his world where music, craft, and curiosity collide 🎶🍸.We talk:• How his background as a musician shaped his creative process 🎸• The birth of Bar Not Found — a roaming cocktail lab on wheels 🚐• His collaborations bringing new spirits like Truman Vodka into the Florida market 🥂A conversation about instinct, invention, and letting the project tell you how it needs to come to life.Find him at @error404_barnotfound.