Sammy Hagar (left) with event MC Joey Gottesman. Photo courtesy of Sean M. Hower.

By Sonia Isotov

Last week, Wednesday, several hundred onlookers watched rocker Sammy Hagar judge a Pre Mix-Off Mai Tai competition at the Royal Lahaina Resort on Kaanapali Beach.

Christoper Nevins won the contest and a trip and entry to the $10,000 World’s Best Mai Tai Mix-Off and the title of World’s Best Mai Tai” being held on the Big Island on August 18.

Nevins was crowned the winner from among 12 working bartenders from Maui, who all incorporated the newly-released Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum in their mai tai recipes. Nevins is a bartender at the Four Season Lobby Lounge on Maui and his winning concoction was called “Kipahulu lulu.”

Nevins won the contest and a trip and entry to the Fourth Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival which is held August 18 at the Royal Lahaina’s sister property the Royal Kona Resort on Hawaii Island.

The Mai Tai Festival will bring 30 other mixologists from around the world together to compete in the $10,000 World’s Best Mai Tai Mix-Off and the title of “World’s Best Mai Tai.”

Two runners up to Nevins will also receive trips and entry into the “Main Event.”  Second place at the Pre Mix-Off was Blair Anderson with Mala Ocean Tavern and a drink called “The Modern Mai Tai.”

Third place went to James Shoemaker from Moana Café in Paia and a drink called “Year of the Dragon.” Shoemaker was last year’s Maui qualifying winner.