Arnold Palmer
A refreshing, citrus and bubbly cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙
The Arnold Palmer is a non-alcoholic half-tea, half-lemonade cooler: cold black tea shaken with fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup, then topped with soda.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Cold black tea 60 mlLemon juice 40 mlSugar syrup 30 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Top with Soda water and briefly stir
- Garnish with a lemon slice
Tips
- Brew the black tea double-strength and chill it fully before shaking; warm or weak tea tastes thin once ice and soda go in.
History
The Arnold Palmer is named for the American professional golfer, who was known for drinking iced tea mixed with lemonade and is credited by some with popularizing, if not inventing, the pairing. By Palmer's own account, he began mixing the two at home in the 1950s and carried the habit into restaurants and clubhouses, where he described the mixture since it had no name yet. The most widely told naming story places it in Palm Springs, California, in the 1960s, when a woman overheard Palmer's order and asked the waitress for "that Palmer drink" too. Other accounts tie the moment to Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado.
The drink's national profile grew after a mention in Rolling Stone's 1997 "Hot Issue," and bottled versions followed, including one distributed by the AriZona Beverage Company beginning in 2002. A sweeter version made with sweet tea is called the Winnie Palmer, after Palmer's wife.
FAQ
What is an Arnold Palmer drink made of?
60 ml cold black tea, 40 ml fresh lemon juice, 30 ml sugar syrup and 30 ml soda water. It contains no alcohol.
What's the difference between an Arnold Palmer and a John Daly?
A John Daly is essentially the same tea-and-lemonade combination with vodka or another spirit added, making it an alcoholic version; this Arnold Palmer stays non-alcoholic. The nickname is a tongue-in-cheek reference to golfer John Daly's public struggles with alcohol.
How do you make a proper Arnold Palmer?
Brew the tea double-strength and chill it fully. Shake it with the lemon juice and sugar syrup over ice, strain into an ice-filled Collins glass, top with soda water and stir briefly. Garnish with a lemon slice.
Does tea or lemonade go first in an Arnold Palmer?
Neither: the tea, lemon juice and sugar syrup are shaken together, then strained over ice. Only the soda water goes in last, so it keeps its fizz.