Barcode Mixer

🎙️ NEW EPISODE — “Accidental Hospitality”
Now playing on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 💨📝🍽️

This week, we introduce someone who’s become a quiet force behind the scenes — our “Angel Producer” and dear friend Nick Jimenez.

As the Cigar Program Director at El Vecino and head of PR for the Ariete Hospitality Group, Nick’s journey into hospitality wasn’t part of the plan — it was an accident rooted in passion.

We talk:
📰 His background in journalism and storytelling
💨 His deep love for cigars and ritual
🙌 And how those instincts — to understand, to savor, to serve — brought him right where he’s meant to be

This is a story about falling into your purpose, and about the many ways hospitality finds you… when you’re paying attention.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE — “Giving it Back”
Now streaming on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 💼🌱

This one’s special. We sit with our dear friend and former mentor Zuni Melendez — someone who shaped Jorge’s early steps in the industry and whose journey from hostess to Director of Operations is a masterclass in leading with heart.

Zuni shares how she built her career not by obligation — but by intention.
Not because she had to — but because she wanted to.

We talk:
🌴 The evolution of Kush Hospitality and its unique place in Miami’s food scene
🔁 Why building something really means giving it back to your team and your city
🚀 A sneak peek at their next chapter — launching a realty group to support hospitality ventures from the ground up

It’s a story about rising with purpose, building with vision, and staying rooted in what matters most.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE — “Rebel With a Cause”
Now live on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🍸🌍🇺🇦

This week on Barcode Mixer, we sit down with our friend Dima, bar manager at Medium Cool Lounge — a true rebel in the best sense of the word.

Originally from Ukraine, Dima came to America with nothing but his profession on his back. In this powerful conversation, he shares:
🌍 What it means to start over from scratch
🇺🇦 Living in the U.S. while war breaks out back home — and rising to the moment
🫱 Using the bar as a platform for fundraising, guest shifts, and global solidarity
🏠 The emotional journey of reuniting his family and building a life here

We also unpack the stereotypes he’s had to break along the way — and the quiet power of staying true to yourself in this industry.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE — “Spirit of the Unicorn”
Now streaming on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🦄🍸

This one’s for the real ones.

We sit down with Juliette Saputo, a true unicorn in the hospitality world — someone who’s only ever known this life, and made it her own with grace and grit.

From her legendary 9-year run at Gramps to now leading the charge as Bar Manager at the Freehand Miami Beach (home to Ray’s and the iconic Broken Shaker), Juliette shares her story with honesty, humor, and heart.

We dive into:
🌴 The pride of being a local showing tourists the real Miami
🏳️‍🌈 What it takes to create lasting spaces for community and culture
🦄 And the rare spirit it takes to thrive in this industry without losing your magic

A story of legacy, leadership, and light.

Now serving on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🍸🗣️

We’re joined by the electric Susan Strom — a Miami Beach golden era bartender, turned spirits distributor, now stepping into her voice as a motivational speaker and soon-to-be TED Talker.

In this rapid-fire, idea-packed session, we talk:
🌴 The legacy of Miami’s ‘90s bar scene
🥃 How cocktails become metaphors for life
💡 And what it means to craft your message the way you craft a drink — with care, intention, and soul

Susan’s got stories, perspective, and purpose — and she’s just getting started.

🌐 Follow her journey at stromcrafted.com
🎧 Listen now / Link in bio

This week on Barcode Mixer, we sit down with Fabio Crista — a bartender whose path has been anything but linear.

From flying planes ✈️ to diving into crypto 💻, Fabio eventually found his true calling behind the bar — and fully committed when he made the move from Spain to the U.S..

We explore:
🌍 The contrasts between European and American bar culture
💭 The personal beliefs and shared roots that shape our worldview
🔥 And the story behind Cambio Tequila, the brand he now passionately represents

This one’s about pivots, purpose, and the beauty of fully showing up for your next chapter.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE — “The Mad Hatter”
Now streaming on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🌀🕯️

Our longest episode yet.
Our favorite conversation so far.

We sit with The Mad Hatter — a scientist in her method, an artist in her spirit. What begins as a conversation about craft becomes something more...

✨ A meditation on purpose
🧠 A deep dive into consciousness and creativity
🌍 And how, in these strange times, we become conduits for light

This one isn’t just about the work — it’s about why we do it, and who we become in the process.

Come curious. Leave changed.

Now pouring on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🥃🔥

Back in the mix: Frank & Kevin of FGM, our dear friends and industry insiders on the distribution and brand marketing side of spirits.

In this comeback conversation, we dive into:
📦 The real stories behind bringing bottles to bars
📊 Current trends, shifts, and challenges in the spirits world
💡 What it takes to represent brands like Dos Hombres Mezcal and Milam & Greene Whiskies with vision and strategy

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the engine that moves the industry — from relationships to representation, and what’s next for the world of spirits.

This week on Barcode Mixer, we sit down with Elizabeth Hernandez, the only female bartender at the world-renowned Café La Trova — a cornerstone of Little Havana and a fixture on the World’s 50 Best Bars list.

Elizabeth shares her journey of:
🎨 Balancing art and bartending as creative expression
🌺 Honoring her heritage, culture, and identity
🍹 Upholding the timeless legacy of the cantinero tradition

She champions what it means to show up fully yourself, and why the soul of a city like Miami lives through bars like this one — in rhythm, ritual, and real connection.

Now live on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🎧🌙

In this episode, we sit down with Luisangel Ramirez, a native Miamian and rising bartender apprenticing under the masters at the iconic Swizzle Bar in Miami Beach.

Luis brings a deep sense of rhythm to the craft — shaped by his roots in music, family, and the city that raised him. Every pour, every stir, carries the weight of intention.

We talk:
🎶 The role of sound and soul behind the bar
👨‍👩‍👦 The influence of home and heritage
🍸 What it means to dedicate yourself to the details — even in the late-night quiet.

This is a story of passion building slowly, then all at once — a crescendo in the night.

🎧 Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform / Link in bio

#BarcodeMixer #CrescendoInTheNight #SwizzleBar #MiamiBartender #CraftCocktails #HospitalityStories #RisingTalent