Into The Barchive

Into The Barchive
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Arts

Into The Barchive is a cocktail history and education podcast that explores the stories, traditions, and techniques behind the world’s most iconic drinks. Hosted by historian and spirits educator Dr. Blake Jones alongside cocktail enthusiast Tim Wright, each episode breaks down classic cocktail families, their origins, and how to make them at home. Equal parts history lesson and hands-on bar class, Into The Barchive helps listeners drink smarter, understand what’s in their glass, and appreciate the culture behind every pour.

  1. 1d ago

    Coca-Cola — The Mixer That Took Over the World

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim dive into one of the most iconic mixers in cocktail history: Coca-Cola. What began as a syrup created in an Atlanta pharmacy became a global cultural phenomenon, a piece of American history, and a surprisingly important part of cocktail culture. Blake and Tim trace Coca-Cola’s journey from soda fountains to worldwide branding, including its role during World War II and the way it became woven into drinking traditions around the globe. Along the way, they make two classic Coca-Cola cocktails: the Cuba Libre, a rum, Coke, and lime drink tied to Cuban independence and American influence, and the Batanga, a tequila and Coke cocktail from Jalisco with its own local legend and unforgettable knife-stirred tradition. From Havana to Jalisco to everyday home bars, this episode shows how even the simplest cocktails can carry rich stories of culture, history, and tradition.

    Coca-Cola — The Mixer That Took Over the World

  2. Jul 23

    Tequila — From Jalisco’s Agave Fields to Global Icon

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim celebrate National Tequila Day by diving into one of the world’s most recognizable spirits. Tequila may be most associated with shots, salt, and lime, but its story goes much deeper. Blake and Tim explore how tequila is made from Blue Weber agave, why it must come from specific regions of Mexico, and how the long growing cycle of agave shapes everything from production to sustainability. They also break down traditional and modern methods, including brick ovens, autoclaves, tahona crushing, fermentation, distillation, aging, additives, and the growing demand for premium, place-based tequila. Along the way, they make two tequila cocktails: the Cantarito, a refreshing Mexican drink built with tequila, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime, saline, grapefruit soda, and a clay mug, and the Siesta, a modern classic that pairs blanco tequila with Campari, grapefruit, lime, and simple syrup. From Jalisco’s agave fields to craft cocktail bars around the world, this episode looks at tequila as more than a party spirit. It is agriculture, craftsmanship, culture, and history poured into a glass.

    Tequila — From Jalisco’s Agave Fields to Global Icon

  3. Jul 16

    The Daiquiri — Constante, Hemingway, and Havana’s Perfect Sour

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim wrap up their tiki and tropical drinks mini series by stepping back to one of the most foundational cocktails in history: the Daiquiri. In honor of National Daiquiri Day, they head to Havana and the legendary El Floridita to explore the work of Constante Ribalaigua Vert, the meticulous Cuban bartender who helped turn the Daiquiri from a simple rum, lime, and sugar sour into a series of refined variations. Blake and Tim break down how small changes in ratios, citrus, sweetness, texture, and technique can completely transform a drink. Along the way, they make four of Constante’s famous Daiquiri variations, from the maraschino-driven Daiquiri No. 1 to the orange-forward Daiquiri No. 2, the grapefruit and maraschino Hemingway Daiquiri, and the frozen Daiquiri No. 4. They also explore El Floridita’s connection to Ernest Hemingway, Cuba’s cocktail culture during Prohibition, and how the electric blender helped shape the evolution of the drink. From Havana elegance to frozen drink machines and modern craft cocktail revival, this episode shows why the Daiquiri is more than just a simple three-ingredient cocktail. It is a framework for balance, precision, and endless refinement.

    The Daiquiri — Constante, Hemingway, and Havana’s Perfect Sour

  4. Jul 9

    The Piña Colada — Puerto Rico’s Iconic Tropical Escape

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim continue their tiki and tropical cocktail series with one of the most recognizable vacation drinks of all time: the Piña Colada. Timed with National Piña Colada Day, this episode looks beyond the drink’s reputation as an overly sweet frozen cliché and explores why the Piña Colada deserves a more thoughtful place in the tropical cocktail canon. Blake and Tim trace the drink’s debated origins in San Juan, Puerto Rico, its connection to the Caribe Hilton, the importance of Coco Lopez, and how rum, pineapple, coconut, and acidity come together when the cocktail is made with care. Along the way, they make two versions of the drink: a shaken Piña Colada built with aged white rum, coconut syrup, pineapple juice, and lime, and an elevated frozen version featuring pineapple rum, coconut rum, coconut syrup, pineapple, lime, and xanthan gum for improved texture and stability. From Puerto Rican hospitality to pop culture fame, from cheap mixes to modern craft cocktail revival, this episode breaks down how the Piña Colada can be rich without being heavy, sweet without being cloying, and simple without being simplistic.

    The Piña Colada — Puerto Rico’s Iconic Tropical Escape

  5. Jul 2

    Trader Vic — The Showman Who Built the Tiki Empire

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim continue their tiki and tropical cocktail series with the story of Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron, the one-legged barman from California who helped turn tiki into an international empire. After exploring Don the Beachcomber in the previous episode, Blake and Tim now step into the world of his greatest rival and one of tiki’s most influential showmen. They trace Vic’s journey from a small beer hall and barbecue shack called Hinky Dinks to the globally recognized Trader Vic’s brand, unpacking how his charisma, entrepreneurial instincts, Americanized Chinese food, collectible mugs, bottled mixes, and destination restaurants helped shape the way people still experience tiki today. The episode also explores how Trader Vic’s approach differed from Don the Beachcomber’s. While Don guarded his recipes in secrecy, Vic published books, built a brand, sold mixes, trained staff, and made tiki more accessible around the world. His cocktails often layered different spirits instead of only layering different rums, creating a style that was bold, balanced, theatrical, and built for hospitality. Along the way, they make two Trader Vic cocktails: the Fog Cutter, a potent mix of rum, cognac, gin, citrus, orgeat, and sherry, and the Port Light, a bourbon-based tiki drink with lemon, honey, passion fruit, and egg white. From tropical escapism to global expansion, this episode looks at how Trader Vic didn’t just follow the tiki wave. He helped build the empire.

    Trader Vic — The Showman Who Built the Tiki Empire

  6. Jun 25

    Don the Beachcomber — The Man Who Invented Tiki Culture

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim continue their tropical and tiki cocktail series with the man who helped create tiki culture itself: Don the Beachcomber. Before he became a cocktail legend, Don was Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, a Texas-born adventurer, rum runner, Hollywood consultant, and world traveler who turned his experiences into something America had never seen before. Blake and Tim explore how Don opened Don’s Beachcomber Cafe in Hollywood in 1934, creating an immersive escape filled with bamboo, fishing nets, carved idols, dim lighting, and a sense of mystery that helped define the tiki bar experience. The episode also dives into Don’s famously complex drink philosophy. His cocktails were built on Caribbean rum traditions, but layered with multiple rums, juices, syrups, spices, and coded ingredients that protected his recipes from imitators. Blake and Tim unpack how secrecy, showmanship, flash blending, rum blends, pebble ice, elaborate garnishes, and dramatic presentation all became part of the tiki playbook. Along the way, they make two Don the Beachcomber classics: the Navy Grog, featuring three styles of rum, grapefruit, lime, honey syrup, soda, and the signature ice cone, and the Demerara Dry Float, a powerful passion fruit and rum cocktail finished with a dangerous overproof rum float. From Depression-era escapism to modern tiki bars, this episode looks at how Don the Beachcomber created more than cocktails. He built an entire world.

    Don the Beachcomber — The Man Who Invented Tiki Culture

  7. Jun 18

    Grog & Planter’s Punch — The Roots of Tropical Cocktails

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim kick off a brand-new series on tropical and tiki drinks by going back to the foundation: grog and Planter’s Punch. Before the paper umbrellas, flaming garnishes, and elaborate tiki mugs, there was watered-down rum on British naval ships. Blake and Tim explore how grog began as a practical drink for sailors, combining rum, water, lime, and sugar in a way that helped stretch rations, reduce drunkenness, and fight scurvy. From there, they trace how rum, sugar, molasses, and maritime trade helped shape the early history of Caribbean drinking culture. The episode also looks at Planter’s Punch, a more hospitable and flavorful evolution of the rum, citrus, sugar, and water template. Blake and Tim discuss its Jamaican roots, its famous “one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak” formula, and how it helped lay the groundwork for the tropical cocktails that would eventually become tiki classics. Along the way, they make two drinks: a simple, no-frills grog with navy-strength rum, lime, Demerara syrup, and bitters, and a Planter’s Punch made with Jamaican rum, lime, Demerara syrup, allspice dram, bitters, and a proper mint garnish. It is the beginning of a deeper dive into rum, escapism, tiki culture, and the legendary figures who turned tropical drinks into an entire cocktail universe.

    Grog & Planter’s Punch — The Roots of Tropical Cocktails

  8. Jun 11

    The Aperol Spritz — Italy’s Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail

    In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim dive into one of the most recognizable cocktails in the world: the Aperol Spritz. More than just a bright orange drink in a wine glass, the Aperol Spritz is tied to the Italian ritual of aperitivo, the pre-dinner tradition of slowing down, gathering with friends, enjoying light snacks, and easing into the evening. Blake and Tim explore how that culture shaped the spritz, how the drink evolved from wine and soda in northern Italy, and how Aperol helped turn a regional ritual into a global symbol of relaxed summer drinking. Along the way, they make two drinks: the classic Aperol Spritz, built with sparkling wine, Aperol, and soda, and the Spaghett, a playful dive bar riff made with Miller High Life, Aperol, and lemon juice. One comes from more than a century of Italian aperitivo culture. The other proves that great cocktail ideas can show up anywhere, even in a bottle of beer. From Venice piazzas to patios around the world, this episode looks at why the Aperol Spritz became more than a cocktail. It became a lifestyle.

    The Aperol Spritz — Italy’s Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Into The Barchive is a cocktail history and education podcast that explores the stories, traditions, and techniques behind the world’s most iconic drinks. Hosted by historian and spirits educator Dr. Blake Jones alongside cocktail enthusiast Tim Wright, each episode breaks down classic cocktail families, their origins, and how to make them at home. Equal parts history lesson and hands-on bar class, Into The Barchive helps listeners drink smarter, understand what’s in their glass, and appreciate the culture behind every pour.

Information

  • Creator
    Into The Barchive
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Into The Barchive
  • Show Website
    Into The Barchive