This week we are joined by NYC bartender and resident Andrea Grujic. Just call her Dre. At the time that the interview was recorded, Dre was back in her native Serbia for a 2 month vacation enjoying some well deserved rest and relaxation time. Being the daughter of a diplomat, Dre grew up with a nomadic lifestyle. Born in Belgrade, raised in Budapest, she spent some time in Oslo and now resides in New York City.
Dre got her start in the Industry about 5 years ago. She started off as a waitress and soon moved on to the bar scene once she mastered the basics. Dre spent a few years working in random bars to make ends meet and pay for school. However, once she started working at The Highwater in NYC, everything changed for her. Dre learned about making homemade syrups and bitters, smoking cocktails and fat washing spirits. She was pushed to create her own drinks. At that point, she fell in love in the creativity behind cocktail culture.
This new found passion drove Dre to immerse herself in this world. Dre spent her time researching and learning as much as she could about various spirits, crafting a cocktail program, bar management and industry networking. This was time well spent as she subsequently spent several years as a bartender and beverage director. Dre is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Media Management. She plans to intertwine her education with the bar industry as she plans to do branding and content production within the bar industry.
Instagram: @by__dre
andreagrujic.com
Podcast Artwork by Zak Hannah @zak.hannah