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This Arnold Palmer Cocktail is an alcoholic version of the common “mocktail” that uses tea, lemonade, and a dash of bourbon! Delicious and refreshing, it may just become your new favorite drink!

hand holding a glass mason jar filled with arnold palmer cocktail

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What is Arnold Palmer drink

An Arnold Palmer is a “mocktail,” or non-alcoholic drink, that’s one part tea and one part lemonade. It was a favorite of the famous golfer Arnold Palmer, though no one knows if he invented it or not!! Either way, it bears his name, and he loved it …

… and YOU will love this mega-refreshing Arnold Palmer cocktail, also known as a spiked Arnold Palmer!! It’s an alcoholic, grown-up version of that classic.

The same idea as the non-alcoholic version – but the alcoholic version just has bourbon in it.

You may have heard this called a John Daly, but that drink has vodka instead of bourbon. Drink names are difficult … no wonder you have to go to bartending school to get it all right.

By the way, there are a lot of similar golf-related cocktails … even one called the Happy Gilmore. You know, after the Adam Sandler movie?! So interesting!

I guess because so many of these cocktails are great for summer get-togethers, and people associate summer with golf? Or maybe that’s just me?

At any rate, I hope you enjoy this super-simple, super-delicious Arnold Palmer drink!

arnold palmer drink with bourbon

Arnold Palmer with Bourbon: Ingredients & Substitutions

This is so easy, I can barely call it a recipe! It’s more like a series of tips! But maybe some of you are new to putting together cocktails and alcoholic drinks. And so, to make this Arnold Palmer drink, you will need …

Ingredients

  • unsweetened tea, lemonade – the two main parts of any Arnold Palmer, whether it’s alcoholic or not! You’ll need a 4:2 tea-to-lemonade ratio. Some people like more or less, so adjust the ratio after trying this cocktail if you need to. 
  • bourbon whiskey – grab your fave in the 80-proof-ish area. You’ll need about 2 ounces of this! And you can leave it out if you’re going non-alcoholic or serving this up to the kids, since without booze the Arnold Palmer is a great (and SUPER tasty) mocktail, too.
  • ice – we can’t have a warm cocktail, now can we?!
arnold palmer cocktail garnished with a lemon wheel

Arnold Palmer Cocktail: FAQs

➡️ What kind of tea do you recommend for the drink?

Sweet tea or black tea works well, either store-bought (like Lipton) or homemade if you happen to know how!! I’m also told you can use other teas, especially flavored ones (for tasty peach, mint, etc.) Arnold Palmers. I haven’t tried it myself (I like the original recipe way too much) but I imagine it’s absolutely delicious.

➡️ How many cocktails does this recipe produce?

Just one, for you or your favorite person! If you want more, you’ll have to make a few batches. You can also easily double, triple, etc the recipe and throw it in a pitcher or something similar if you’re having a get-together.

➡️ How long does it take to make an Arnold Palmer drink?

Just a minute or two! You only have to stir the ingredients, I promise! No secret instructions!! 😉

➡️ Can you use a shaker to make this drink?

You can if you have one! And it will make your drink cold really fast, too. 

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looking into a glass of arnold palmer cocktail

Other recipes you may enjoy

arnold palmer cocktail garnished with lemon
4.70 from 10 votes
Servings: 1 drink

Arnold Palmer Cocktail

By Jamie Sherman
This Arnold Palmer Cocktail is an alcoholic version of the common “mocktail” that uses tea, lemonade, and a dash of bourbon! Delicious and refreshing, it may just become your new favorite drink!
Prep: 3 minutes
Total: 3 minutes

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Ingredients 

  • 4 ounces unsweetened tea
  • 2 ounces lemonade
  • 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
  • ice

Instructions 

  • Fill your cup about halfway with ice.
  • Measure and pour your lemonade, whiskey, and tea over the ice in the glass.
  • Stir and enjoy.

Notes

  • If you prefer a sweeter drink, you’ll want to use sweet tea instead of unsweet tea.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail, Calories: 215kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Sodium: 8mg, Potassium: 12mg, Sugar: 18g, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 0.01mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jamie

Jamie Sherman founded Love Bakes Good Cakes in February 2012. She is a self-taught home cook passionate about sharing easy, delicious, and family-friendly recipes. From comforting classics to irresistible desserts, I believe homemade food brings people together. Join me on my journey of creating and sharing meals that bring joy to every table!

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4.70 from 10 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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