Recipe for Arnold Palmer Cocktail
Take the classic blend of lemonade and iced tea to the next level with this recipe for an Arnold Palmer cocktail! Spiked with bourbon whiskey, this delicious beverage is a boozy version of the popular summer drink. And since it's made with just three simple ingredients, it's the perfect alcoholic treat to enjoy on a hot afternoon.
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What Do I Need to Make this Recipe for an Arnold Palmer Cocktail?
With just three ingredients, this classic cocktail couldn't be simpler to make! All you need to whip up your own spiked Arnold Palmer is:
- Unsweetened iced tea
- Lemonade
- Bourbon whiskey
- Ice
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How Do I Make this Recipe for an Arnold Palmer Cocktail?
A lot of people think an Arnold Palmer is simply half lemonade and half tea. But here's how to make the real Arnold Palmer cocktail, with a refreshing hint of lemonade and tea, along with a slight bite from the addition of bourbon.
Step One: Add the Ice
Start by filling a large glass halfway full of ice.
Step Two: Mix the Drink
Measure and pour the lemonade into the glass first, followed by the whiskey, and then the tea. Stir to mix the ingredients together and enjoy!
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What Is an Arnold Palmer Drink?
The most popular way to enjoy an Arnold Palmer is as a mocktail. It's traditionally made up of a mix of iced tea and lemonade. Named after the famous golfer who is said to have created the beverage, this refreshing drink is also a popular cocktail when you add a little bit of bourbon whiskey!
While the drink can be prepared using any mix of tea to lemonade, Arnold Palmer prefers a ratio of three parts unsweetened iced tea to one part lemonade.
How to Make Unsweetened Ice Tea
To prepare this drink, you're going to need some tea! Luckily, it's easy to prepare a fresh pitcher of tea at home in minutes!
Start by bringing four cups of water to a boil in a medium pot. When the water begins to boil, turn off the heat and add 5 to 6 tea bags, depending on how strong you like your tea. Allow the tea bags to steep for around five minutes, then remove them from the pot.
Pour the tea into a large pitcher, then fill the remaining space in the pitcher with water. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator to chill until cold.
How to Make Fresh Lemonade
Now that you have your tea ready to go, why not make some fresh lemonade to add to your cocktail, too?
It's simple to make fresh lemonade at home! First, combine one cup of water and one cup of sugar in a small saucepan. Warm the ingredients over medium low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Allow the mixture to come to a simmer, then remove the pan from heat and allow the syrup to col for around 10 minutes.
While the sugar mixture is cooling, squeeze one cup of juice from your lemons and pour the juice into the bottom of a large pitcher. Add the sugar water mixture and stir to mix, then fill the pitcher with water until it's full. Store the prepared lemonade in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.
Arnold Palmer Cocktail Recipe Ideas
Making this basic cocktail couldn't be easier! And that means it's also super simple to customize. Try these ingredient substitutions and serving ideas as you're putting together your own drinks to satisfy your guests on a hot summer day.
- Leave out the alcohol. Of course, the easiest way to change up this cocktail recipe is to turn it into a mocktail. Simply leave out the whiskey to create a kid-friendly drink.
- Adjust the ratio of tea to lemonade. Another simple way to adjust the flavor of your drink is to experiment with the amounts of tea and lemonade you use. Add more lemonade for added tartness. Or add more tea to balance the sourness of the lemons.
- Make it with sweet tea. While the sugar from the lemonade will add a hint of sweetness to this drink, you may think the cocktail needs a little extra sugar. If you prefer your drinks to be sweeter, simply use sweet iced tea instead of unsweetened tea.
- Shake the cocktail before serving. Make sure your drinks are well mixed and ice cold with the help of a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and add the drink ingredients. Shake a few times, then strain the liquid in a clean glass over fresh ice.
- Try it with vodka. Not a fan of whiskey? Don't worry! You can also make this classic cocktail with vodka. Use the same amount of vodka as whiskey listed in the recipe.
- Use flavored lemonade. Instantly change up the flavor of your Arnold Palmer with the help of flavored lemonade. Try using strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry lemonade the next time you whip up this easy recipe.
- Add some garnishes. You can't sip on a delicious cocktail without decorating the glass first! Try adding a lemon slice on the brim or top the drink with some fresh sprigs of mint before serving.
- Make a large batch. While this recipe is good for preparing a drink at a time, you can also whip up a big batch of your drink to serve a crowd! Simply combine 4 cups unsweetened tea, 2 cups lemonade, and 2 cups bourbon in a large pitcher to mix a batch of 8 servings. Stir to mix the ingredients, then pour the cocktail over ice as you serve it.
Recipe for Arnold Palmer Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 Ounces Unsweetened Tea
- 2 Ounces Lemonade
- 2 Ounces Bourbon Whiskey
- Ice
Instructions
- Fill your cup about halfway with ice.
- Measure and pour in your lemonade, whiskey, and finally, your tea.
- Stir and enjoy!
Notes
• You can shake all of the ingredients in a shaker before pouring into your glass. This gets it really cold really fast.
• You can always combine the ingredients in a separate glass and then pour it over the ice, if desired. This won’t make it as cold quickly. Lemonade and tea tend to take longer to chill, so assembling it over ice helps this issue.
