You won’t find them on a stick, but cocktails in cans and cups are everywhere at the Fair. During recent visits, I not only ate my way through the Fair, but also drank my way through the Fair. (Luckily, I had a gang of sippers to assist me so I didn’t wind up sleeping it off in a goat stall.)
Beer might always be the fairest of the Fairs, but guys, there are some great spirit-based drinks to drink! Here are five – in no particular order – that we enjoyed.
Key Lime Cocktail
Slim McGinn’s
Grandstand Ave & Second Street
The beauty of this drink is that it’s sweet, but not too sweet, as well as tart, but too tart. It’s also very refreshing which was much appreciated on a warm day at the Fair. It is available with Eagle Park vodka or Great Lakes Distillery rum – we went with the vodka – and mixed with lime juice, syrup and sweetened condensed milk. The frothy cocktail is served over ice and garnished with graham cracker crumbles and a lime.
Cherry Vodka Lemonade
Numerous beverage stands
There are a plethora of canned cocktails at the Fair, but this one particularly pleased our palates. Central Standard Distillery and Leinenkugel’s partnered up to produce Cherry Vodka Lemonade made with Central Standard’s vodka and Door County cherry juice, lemon flavors from Leinie’s Summer Shandy and raw Wisconsin honey. It’s convenient to drink it straight from the can, but is also tasty over ice.
Camp Bar’s Old Fashioned
Old Fashioned Sipper Club
Central Avenue & First Street
Camp Bar has four regular locations in Metro Milwaukee that, over the years, made them recognized as THE place for an Old Fashioned. Thus, this is also a great choice when at the Wisconsin State Fair. Camp’s Old Fashioned is available with brandy or whiskey (if you want the quintessential Wisco experience, go with the brandy) and “sweet” or “sour.” We went with the sour, hence the olive garnish, whereas the sweet version is garnished with a cherry.
Bloody Mary with chaser
Old Fashioned Sipper Club
Central Avenue & First Street
Speaking of quintessential Wisconsin cocktails, the Fair’s Bloody Mary makes the short list. Made with Rehorst vodka, it’s available with a mini Coors Light chaser for an additional fee. It’s very mild in spiciness, which made it refreshing, and light on garnishes. Admittedly, we would have liked a hunk of Wisconsin cheese in there, maybe a locally-made sausage stick.
The Bloody Mary with a chaser is a double-fisted commitment, so be prepared to take a seat while enjoying one of these. This was appealing to us because it inspired us to sit down, slow down and partake in one of the best Fair activities: people watching.
Seyval Blanc from Balanced Rock Winery
Wisconsin Wine Garden
Central Avenue between Second & Third Street
Wine is not technically a cocktail, but it’s also not beer, and so it made the list. The Wisconsin Wine Garden serves dozens of local wines and, at first, we were tempted to pick our usual favorite whites from Wollersheim or Cedar Creek wineries. However, the sommelier suggested Seyval Blanc from Balanced Rock Winery in Baraboo. The dry wine has notes of apple, lemon and grapefruit. It’s crisp and refreshing, which made it the ideal wine for a warm day. Now we have to figure out where to buy it by the bottle.