Alcoholic Arnold Palmer

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Add a little vodka to your lemonade and iced tea mixture to make an Alcoholic Arnold Palmer.

It was early morning at the Burbank airport. The line to get through TSA moved like a breeze, and before I knew it, I was at my gate, a good few hours before departure. I was also the only person here, it seemed. With a little time to burn, I embarked on one of my favorite activities… wandering through an airport. This particular one is small, which is also why I love flying in and out of it.

After I walked for a bit and had some breakfast at one of the restaurants, I decided a beverage of the boozy variety was a good idea. Yes, it was still early in the day, and ordinarily this sort of thing is somewhat frowned on in the middle of the week, but what the hey. I was off on a little vacation anyway, and it started now, the way I looked at it. And where I had breakfast also had a bar, which was operating at full swing, too, so at least I wasn’t alone in my thinking.

I didn’t want anything that reminded me of an evening drink, and since I had just eaten a breakfast burrito the size of my head with a coffee, I was fairly thirsty. And then I remembered my days in the cart barn when I worked on a golf course, and thought of tonight’s cocktail, the Alcoholic Arnold Palmer. It is exactly what the name says, an Arnold Palmer, which itself is tea and lemonade together, but with the added bite of liquor provided by vodka.

Sweet, a little bitter and hundred percent refreshing, my drink disappeared pretty quickly. And since I still had time before I boarded, another was ordered just as quickly.

What Is The Best Vodka To Use In An Alcoholic Arnold Palmer?

If one spirit has an almost endless bevy of choices, it would probably be vodka. If you’re looking for a very specific flavor of anything, you’ll more than likely find a vodka-infused version of it. Within reason, of course. Cotton candy vodka? Yes, you can get that. Booger flavored? No. For tonight’s drink, let’s go with a simple and plain unflavored variety, either potato, rye or corn-distilled. This will allow the lemonade and tea to shine, and keep your mixture balanced.

FAQs & Tips

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

You’ll want a tall glass for this drink, like one of the collins or highball variety. Fill it with ice, mix your cocktail inside and garnish the rim with a fresh lemon wheel.

CAN YOU STORE THE ALCOHOLIC ARNOLD PALMER?

You can prep a large batch of this recipe (without ice) and store it in your fridge in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve. Then, just pour over ice and stir.

HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN AN ALCOHOLIC ARNOLD PALMER?

Each glass you imbibe will have around 153 calories. If you’re in the mood for more than one, why not have them?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS DRINK AND A JOHN DALY?

Nothing really, apart from the name. Both are somewhat cheeky references to John Daly’s enjoyment of alcoholic beverages.

Other Golf Drinks Worth Trying

Whether you’re enjoying a Wednesday afternoon out with your caddy or you’re waiting for your flight to board, an Alcoholic Arnold Palmer is a great way to add some extra zip and enjoyment to the experience. If the laid-back vibes and potent bite of this drink have you thinking about other tipples you might find at the 19th Hole, check out some of these recipes.

• Arnold Palmer – The original, non-alcoholic classic is easy to make and sip on.
• John Daly – Like I mentioned above, this is the boozy version of the Palmer.
• Lemon, Lime and Bitters – Here’s another popular concoction amongst golfers.
• Shandy Beer – Played below par and feeling parched as well? Have one of these at the clubhouse.