About Us
BACKBAR is a digital magazine dedicated to spirits education — bringing you the history, craft, and culture behind the world's most celebrated distilled beverages. No memberships. No paywalls. Just quality knowledge, freely accessible.
Our Mission
The spirits industry is rich with remarkable stories — tales of craft distillers perfecting recipes across generations, of regions that have shaped entire categories of spirits, of the bartenders and visionaries who transformed how the world drinks. Yet too often, this knowledge remains locked behind expensive certifications, industry gatekeepers, or scattered across countless sources that demand your email before offering a single insight.
We believe that great beverage education should be accessible to everyone. Whether you're a hospitality professional looking to deepen your expertise, an enthusiast eager to understand what makes a bourbon different from a rye, or simply someone who wants to appreciate the craftsmanship in their glass — you deserve access to quality content without the friction of sign-up forms, membership tiers, or content drip campaigns.
BACKBAR exists to democratize spirits knowledge. We curate and create educational content that respects your time and intelligence, presenting complex topics with clarity and depth. From the volcanic soils that shape mezcal to the oak barrels that define Scotch whisky, we bring you the stories behind the spirits — no strings attached.
About the Creator
BACKBAR was created by Derek Engles, a hospitality professional with over two decades of experience in luxury beverage service. After years working as a sommelier and wine director at properties including Wynn Resort and MGM Grand, Derek transitioned into technology development — combining deep industry knowledge with a modern tech stack to build educational platforms that make a real impact in the hospitality space.
Let's Collaborate
Whether you're a spirits brand looking to tell your story, a hospitality group seeking to elevate your team's beverage knowledge, or an organization that wants to put quality content in front of an engaged audience — we'd love to hear from you. We partner with brands and businesses to create educational content that brings your team up to speed and places your brand front and center with consumers who care about craft and quality.
Get in Touch