I'm not much of a soda girlie as much as I am a lemonade and ice tea lover. Give me a tall glass of iced tea or a fresh lemonade and I am a happy camper. When you mix these two together, you get an Arnold Palmer drink. Half lemonade, half iced tea, what more could you ask for? Alcohol? Sure! This is a homemade spiked Arnold Palmer cocktail recipe and it's not only super refreshing, but ridiculously easy to make at home with just three ingredients.
Cocktails, or mocktails, are fun to make and even more fun to savor with your favorite people around you. This particular beverage is great when the weather begins to warm up and the sun stays out way later than your kid's bedtime.
If you want to round out your beverage menu, a few of my other recipes like my small batch sangria or my vodka soda are perfect for any occasion!
Jump to:
What is an Arnold Palmer drink?
An Arnold Palmer is essential 50% iced tea with 50% lemonade. It's named after professional golfer Arnold Palmer. Most restaurants can make this by simply mixing lemonade with iced tea in a glass and serve, but there is also an Arnold Palmer drink directly from a can, too!
What ingredients do I need for this spiked Arnold Palmer?
- Lemonade and Iced Tea - You can easily use two separate drinks for this, but I love Santa Cruz's pre-made half lemonade/half iced tea in a glass jar. Easy peasy and ready to pour!
- Honey - I like adding just a little touch of honey to sweeten it up as I don't prefer sweetened tea. Local Hive Honey is my go to choice for honey!
- Vodka - The "spiked" portion of this cocktail comes from the addition of vodka to the drink.
- Thyme and Lemon Wedge - for a fun little garnish!
See the recipe card below for specific information about quantities.
How do I make this cocktail?
Step 1: Add ice to a cocktail shaker, than add in the honey, vodka, and half-lemonade/half iced-tea.
Step 2: Close the shaker tightly, and shake vigorously. Pour into a tall glass with ice and garnish with a lemon slice and thyme.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Vodka - you can swap out the vodka for tequila or for gin if you prefer
- Frozen - add all of the ingredients to a blender and make it into a frozen drink.
- Spicy - if you want to add a little spice to it, rim the glass with tajin or use a jalapeno flavored alcohol.
- Ice Pops - add all the ingredients to an ice pop mold. Vodka technically doesn't freeze, but if you have enough of the iced tea/lemonade in there, it should still freeze into an ice pop.
Ways to Serve this Arnold Palmer
- Serve this at your next BBQ! It's super refreshing and pairs really well with a burger and hot dog,
- Make a large pitcher for a shower or family event.
- Create a "Spiked Arny Palmer Beverage Bar" and give everyone options for making their own.
Storage Information
You can prep the ingredients ahead of time, but don't add any ice. Add the ice once you're ready to serve the drink so that the ice doesn't dilute it.
Thirsty for More?
Check out these other incredible cocktails!
Did you like this recipe? Share it!
If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you for being here!!
Homemade Spiked Arnold Palmer Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
- cocktail spoon
- jigger
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups half lemonade half iced tea
- 2 shots vodka
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 lemon slice
- 1 thyme sprig
Instructions
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker, than add in the honey, vodka, and half-lemonade/half iced-tea.
- Close the shaker tightly, and shake vigorously. Pour into a tall glass with ice and garnish with a lemon slice and thyme.
Leave a Reply