Boozy Arnold Palmer
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Boozy Arnold Palmer – This is the ultimate summertime refresher. Lemonade and iced tea, how do you go wrong? This lemony combination is perfectly suited for just about any liquor you have handy. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this simple cocktail!
When asked the age old question, “lemonade or iced tea?”, Arnold Palmer had a groundbreaking answer that has changed the course of time as we know it. “Why not both?” It’s a winning combination that can’t be topped when it comes to refreshment! Today I’ve spiked it with some vodka and, let me tell you, it is also a perfect combination for a great cocktail.
You can make this recipe very simply by pouring an ounce of vodka into a glass filled with half lemonade and half iced tea, but what kind of food blogger would I be if I kept it that basic? Today you’ll be making a lemonade and iced tea mixture made completely from scratch. Don’t let that scare you off. The mixture is made with just 4 ingredients! Most importantly, it takes just 10 minutes to whip up.
Who is Arnold Palmer?
Who is this guy? And why do we have a drink named after him? If you didn’t already know, Arnold Palmer was one of the worlds’ greatest golfers. In other words, a very famous and recognizable man in his time.
While many may know who this man is, you may not know exactly how this drink got its name. One day at a Palm Springs gold course, Arnie ordered a mixture of lemonade and iced tea from his server. A nearby patron overheard the order, and said, “I’ll have the Arnold Palmer drink!” And that, my friends, is actually how the beloved drink was born.
Ingredients
Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!
- Water – Divided. Hot water to steep the tea and cold water to mix the cocktail.
- Sugar – Granulated. Honey would be nice as well.
- Tea bags – Black tea works best.
- Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed.
- Vodka – Check below for more spirit options!
How to make a boozy Arnold Palmer
- Tea: Add 2 cups of the water to a small saucepan along with the sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat off and add the tea bags to the saucepan. Steep for 5-6 minutes and stir often. Discard the tea bags.
- Mix: Fill a pitcher with ice. Pour the tea, remaining 1 1/2 cups of water (chilled), lemon juice, and vodka over the ice. Use a large spoon to mix everything well.
- Serve: Pour into collins glasses and serve garnished with a wheel of lemon.
What type of tea to use
As many of you probably already know, classic iced tea is made with black tea. You can use an English breakfast blend, orange pekoe, Nepal black, or a strong Kenyan tinderet. Floral types like jasmine black or Earl Grey will add a beautiful layer of flavor to your iced tea that will be perfectly complimented with lemon.
You can use also green tea or oolong! This recipe, with all that wonderful lemon flavor, is very forgiving and versatile.
What type of spirits will work?
Vodka was an easy choice for me, today. When I drink a cocktail, I like to sip away without knowing the alcohol is even in there! Good ol’ neutrally flavored vodka is always the answer in this case.
However, this cocktail will work with plenty of different types of spirits. Whiskey/ bourbon, tequila, rum, and even gin would work perfectly!
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Boozy Arnold Palmer
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups water (divided)
- ⅓ cup sugar (granulated)
- 4 black tea bags (such as English breakfast)
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup vodka
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of the water to a small saucepan along with the sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat off and add the tea bags to the saucepan. Steep for 5-6 minutes and stir often. Discard the tea bags.
- Fill a pitcher with ice. Pour the tea, remaining 1 1/2 cups of water (chilled), lemon juice, and vodka over the ice. Use a large spoon to mix everything well.
- Pour into collins glasses and serve garnished with a wheel of lemon.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Isn’t this known as a John Daily?
Never heard of it.
Yes, it is. John Daly is/was a golfer known more for his drinking than his golf. So a spiked Arnold Palmer is known as a John Daly to many people.
Good to know! 🙂