A LOT of people in Honolulu don’t realize — or simply take it for granted — that we have some of the most talented young adults working among us.

These days, 20- and 30-somethings own restaurants and nightclubs, make music full time, promote some of the biggest concerts that happen in Hawaii, and even represent our island state on the national and global levels. Christian Self is one of those movers and shakers — literally.

Self, an award-winning mixologist who serves as bar manager at thirtyninehotel, was on the Big Island last weekend to participate in the Second Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival. His original "Mai Thai" recipe (served with an edible, deconstructed 1944 Trader Vic’s Mai Tai on the side) beat out entries from 21 other bartenders to earn the title of "World’s Best Mai Tai" and a $10,000 check from Bacardi.

"I’ve been in so many drink competitions and I’ve always thought I should be up there (winning), so I got over being disappointed a long, long time ago," he said. "I go in with zero expectations and just do my thing. If they pick me, they pick me."

This time, the judges did pick him. Bacardi brand master William Ramos, cocktail expert Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, Hawaii Beverage Guide Publisher Chris Teves, Maui-based musician Eric Gilliom and Better Brands’ Joey Gottesman (a pretty awesome bartender himself) had no trouble picking Self over second-place finisher Brice Ginardi and third-place finisher Amy Greenleaf. Using criteria including presentation, nose, palate, finish, balance and creativity, the judges were forced to stay focused while sipping each of the contest’s 22 entries.

In the end, Self’s biggest problem was figuring out how to bring an oversized check and trophy back to Oahu. Luckily, the staff at Hawaiian Airlines in Kona was very accommodating.

"I thought they weren’t gonna let me through, but they all seemed to know who I was," he laughed. "They even bumped me into first class, so I wasn’t complaining." …

CLUB PICKS: Head to Ka at Ward Center tonight to help raise money for a celebration of life in memory of local skateboarder Kenny Brimer, who died July 23 after a battle with leukemia. Doors open at 10 p.m. with DJs Manifest, Toad One and Jahson the 45 Revolver playing the punk rock Brimer loved. Suggested cover is $10 at the door … After spending much of the last six months on the mainland, DJ Sovern-T is back in town and will spin a closing set tomorrow at Waikiki’s Da Big Kahuna alongside DJ Lukas and MC KonChus. Sovern-T will go on some time around 1 a.m. … College kids are back in Manoa this week, so Artist Groove Network has partnered with Level H Promotions for "Extra Credit" on Wednesdays at Rock Bottom (the former Red Lion University). DJs Betty and Flip are the residents; doors open at 10 p.m. …

For additional photo and video coverage of the Mai Tai Festival, visit tgif.staradvertiser.com.

In the Mix drops Fridays in TGIF. Contact Jason Genegabus by e-mail at jason@staradvertiser.com or phone at 529-4766. Check out TGIF on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TGIF808.