Andra 'AJ' Johnson

Andra Johnson is a 24 year industry veteran who brings a breadth of experience to the table, literally and figuratively. But what sets Andra Johnson apart is that for her, crafting cocktails is a gateway to storytelling and collaboration. Each cocktail creation is imbued with meaning: the drink is more than a mere alcoholic beverage, it has a story to tell, and oftentimes that story amplifies voices that have heretofore been silenced. Most recently, Andra served as the Managing Partner at Serenata. In 2017, she launched her platform 'White Plates Black Faces' with the focus being on finding and amplifying Black voices in the DMV hospitality scene. In 2020 she founded 'Back to Black', a charity cocktail pop up focused on raising funds and awareness for Black and Brown charitable organizations. She was named an Imbibe 75 Honoree for Imbibe Magazine in 2022 and most recently named a 2025 James Beard Semifinalist for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.