Arnold Palmer is a refreshing summer drink from the 1960s. Make lemonade and iced tea together. In my opinion, this combination is better than iced tea or lemonade. they look great.
Although this recipe is simple, there are many variations, so it’s important to find the proportions you like. Explore different variations to create the perfect Arnold Palmer drink.
Other non-alcoholic drinks: Roy Rogers Drink, Shirley Temple, Agua Fresca, Virgin Mojito, Pink Drink, Butterbeer, Fruit Punch and other mocktail recipes.
arnold palmer ingredients
- lemonade – You can use homemade or store-bought lemonade.
- iced tea – Traditionally unsweetened black tea is used, but any infusion can be used. Classic recipes call for unsweetened tea, but choose your own adventure here too.
- ice Please choose your favorite ice
- garnish Optionally, you can garnish this drink with orange slices, lemon slices, or a bunch of fresh mint leaves.
The best glasses to serve Arnold Palmer are: highball glass. I also used paper straws In my photos (although this glass straw It’s my absolute favorite).

How to make
First, fill the glass with ice.
Pour the lemonade, then the iced tea over the ice, stirring gently at the end.
Garnish with lemon slices, orange wedges, or fresh mint (optional).
This drink will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days (for best flavor, drink within 5 days).
history
Arnold Palmer’s drink is named after the golf legendArnold Palmer. Arnold “The King” Palmer is famous for winning 62 PGA Tour titles between 1955 and 1973. Arnold’s go-to drinks were lemonade and unsweetened iced tea. He was often seen carrying around a thermos containing his namesake drink.
Arnold Palmer and his wife Winnie are credited with developing this non-alcoholic drink. Winnie had been making Arnold a tea and lemonade combo for years. One day at a restaurant in Palm Springs, Arnold ordered iced tea and lemonade for lunch. A woman sitting near their table overheard them and asked the waitress for an “Arnold Palmer drink.” This recipe has been popular ever since. The refreshing taste and simple ingredients continue to stand the test of time.
best arnold palmer ratio
- 1:1 – Fill a glass with ice and add half lemonade and half iced tea. This variation is often referred to as half-and-half.
- 1:2 – Fill a glass with ice, then fill the glass one-third full with lemonade and the remaining two-thirds with black tea. This was Arnold Palmer’s favorite version.
- 1:3 – Fill a glass 1/4 with lemonade and pour iced tea over it.
Determining the “best” ratio is a matter of opinion. If you’re using unsweetened tea, I recommend starting with 1:1 and if it’s too sweet, try 1:2. Using sweet tea will always make the entire drink sweeter. Therefore, it is important to decide whether you want to taste tea or lemonade.

tips on how to make
- When making simple recipes like this one, it’s best to use the highest quality ingredients. Homemade lemonade and tea are recommended.
- Add fresh mint and lemon for even more flavor.
- Try flavored teas for a fun variation. You can use any type of tea, so feel free to get creative.
variations
- Winnie Palmer – This recipe, named after Arnold Palmer’s wife, uses sweet iced tea instead of unsweetened iced tea.
- Sunjoy – Restaurant chain Chick-fil-A offers a version of Arnold Palmer called “Sunjoy.” Their drinks are made with lemonade and sweet tea (optional, unsweetened tea can be substituted for diet lemonade if the customer chooses).
- iced tea lemonade – Starbucks offers its own version using lemonade and black tea, sweetened with simple syrup.
- john daly (Ernie Palmer Cocktail) – If you want a spiked Arnold Palmer, add a shot of vodka, and in the 1990s it was called John Daly (named after another professional golfer). The most popular liquor to add to this recipe is vodka, but I personally like to add bourbon, but rum or limoncello would also be interesting options. Add a shot of your favorite alcohol to create a spiked Ernie Palmer.
- flavored tea – The easiest way to customize this recipe is to use flavored teas. I always use herbal teas (because my kids love these drinks), but I would love vanilla tea, orange, or cherry in this recipe. Mint tea is also a refreshing option.
- flavored syrup – For extra flavor and sweetness, try flavored syrups like mint simple syrup or grenadine syrup.
- pitcher arnold palmer – It’s super easy to make a pitcher version of this recipe. Simply add the ideal ratio of black tea and lemonade to a pitcher and garnish with fresh mint or lemon to taste.

FAQ
What is Arnold Palmer’s classic drink made of?
Arnold Palmer is made by combining lemonade and iced tea. There is debate as to which ratio is best, but the 1:1 ratio (half tea, half lemonade) is the most well-known.
What is Arnold Palmer spiked with?
Arnold Palmer is a non-alcoholic drink that combines lemonade and iced tea. Many people enjoy spiked Arnold Palmer cocktails. The most common choice is a shot of vodka. We recommend the bourbon, gin, dark rum, and limoncello shots.
What does Arnold Palmer’s drink taste like?
Arnold Palmer is a refreshing, semi-sweet combination of lemonade and unsweetened iced tea.
More recipes to try:
- cocktail – Tom Collins, Cosmopolitan, Old Fashioned
- drink recipes – Cherry Limeade, Orange Julius, Dragon Fruit Smoothie
- Appetizer – 30+ easy finger foods

arnold palmer drink
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Device
-
1 highball glass
material
- 4 ounce prepared lemonade
- 4 ounce prepared iced tea
- ice
Instructions
-
First, fill the glass with ice.
-
Pour the lemonade, then the iced tea over the ice, stirring gently at the end.
-
Garnish with lemon slices, orange wedges, or fresh mint (optional).
Precautions
- When making simple recipes like this one, it’s best to use the highest quality ingredients. Homemade lemonade and tea are recommended.
- Add fresh mint and lemon for even more flavor.
- Try flavored teas for a fun variation.
- This drink will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days (for best flavor, drink within 5 days).
nutrition
Source: A Beautiful Mess – abeautifulmess.com
