This isn’t just a cocktail class — it’s a showcase of locally sourced ingredients and the cultural stories behind them. On Friday, September 12, Leeward Community College’s Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center will host its first Value-Added Masterclass: Signature Sips with Foraged Flavors, led by award-winning mixologist Michael Jensen, fresh off a Hale ʻAina win for Best Cocktail Program.

In this unique mixology class, participants will learn the fundamentals of cocktail balance and technique by crafting three signature sips using rare, locally foraged ingredients:
-A monkeypod-infused take on the classic old fashioned;
-A refreshing highball featuring li hing pineapple developed by Ken’s Korner; and
-A martini made with pandan calamansi syrup.

Each drink will be paired with curated small bites, and guests will take home a premium mixer with Hawaiʻi-made ingredients. More than just a cocktail lesson, this experience will explore the global origins and cultural significance of featured spirits – showing how ingredients, sourcing, and presentation can turn a cocktail into a value-added product with a rich history.

In this all-inclusive experience, all tools, ingredients, and materials will be provided, and there is free on-site parking in the WVAPDC’s gated lot.