What To Drink At Fair Saint Louis If You Aren’t A Beer Person

ST. LOUIS, MO — Fair Saint Louis, often called America's biggest birthday party, is back at the (newly-renovated) Arch grounds this year. The three-day extravaganza will feature music from country music superstar Martina McBride, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and many others, plus a nationally recognized fireworks display each evening.

There will also be plenty of good food and drinks. Independence Day is the top-selling beer holiday in the United States, but if beer isn't your thing, there are other options. Patrón Tequila will be stopping by the festival as part of its “Patrón the Summer” tour, which brings delicious cocktails to some of the country’s biggest events.

Patrón was kind enough to share some of its best recipes with Patch. Here they are:

BBQ Smoked Margarita
1.5 oz Patrón Reposado
.5 oz Patrón Citrónge Lime
.5 oz Lime juice
.5 oz Agave syrup
3 drops Liquid smoke
1:1 BBQ rub & salt rim
METHOD: In a shaker tin with ice, add all ingredients and shake to chill. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and BBQ rub & salt rim.

Green Olive Patrónic
1.25 oz Green olive-infused Patrón Silver
3.5 oz Tonic water
2 dashes Inverted sugar syrup
Skewered olive and lemon zest for garnish
METHOD: Add skewered olives to a highball glass. Add green olive-infused Patrón Silver and the inverted sugar syrup. Stir in tonic water. Garnish with a lemon zest.

Jalisco Mule
2 oz Patrón Silver
3 oz Ginger beer
.5 oz Lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish
Candied ginger for garnish
METHOD: Combine Patrón Silver and lime juice in chilled mule mug filled with crushed ice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge and candied ginger.

Hacienda Paloma
1.5 oz Patrón Reposado
2.75 oz Fresh grapefruit juice
.5 oz simple syrup (1:1)
.5 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
1 oz sparkling water or grapefruit soda
Method: Combine all ingredients except club soda in a shaker tin and shake with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a sugar-and-salt rimmed Collins glass. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and a straw

If any of those sound good to you, drop by the fair and get one as it was intended to be made. Admission is free, but expect a crowd. Your best bet is to park at one of the 21 Metro Park and Ride lots in Missouri or across the river in Illinois, and take the MetroLink into downtown. Or check out getaroundstl.com for a list of downtown parking garages.

Image courtesy of Patrón