Marry Thompson This Spiked Arnold Palmer is a refreshing and boozy recipe, which is made with bourbon and fresh mint. It’s a great choice for summer parties, ready in about 15 minutes.
Jump to RecipeSpiked Arnold Palmer Recipe Ingredients
- 5 family-sized black tea bags
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, plus more for serving
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups strained lemon juice from 12 whole lemons, chilled
- 3 cups bourbon
- Ice
- Lemon slices, for serving
How To Make a Spiked Arnold Palmer
- Make the mint-infused sweet tea: In a small saucepan, bring 2 quarts (8 cups) of water to a boil. Remove it from the heat, add the tea bags and the mint leaves, and let them steep for 5 minutes.
- Sweeten the tea: Remove and discard the tea bags. Whisk in the sugar until it is completely dissolved.
- Combine the cocktail: Strain the mint-infused sweet tea into a very large pitcher or drink dispenser, discarding the mint leaves. Stir in 4 quarts (16 cups) of cold water, the chilled lemon juice, and the bourbon.
- Serve: Serve the cocktail chilled over ice, garnished with fresh lemon slices and mint sprigs.
Recipe Tips
- Can I make this non-alcoholic? Absolutely. To make a delicious Minty Arnold Palmer, simply omit the bourbon. The mint-infused sweet tea and fresh lemon juice are fantastic on their own.
- How do you get the best mint flavor? For a fresh, bright mint flavor, it’s important to steep the mint leaves in the hot water, but not to boil them. Boiling the mint can make it taste bitter.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, this is the perfect big-batch cocktail to make ahead. You can mix everything together and store it in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Serve over fresh ice when you’re ready.
- What kind of bourbon is best? A smooth, mid-range bourbon is a great choice. You don’t need to use a top-shelf sipping bourbon, but avoid very harsh, inexpensive ones. A classic Kentucky bourbon works wonderfully.
What To Serve With a Spiked Arnold Palmer
This refreshing cocktail is perfect for a summer barbecue, picnic, or afternoon gathering. It pairs well with classic party foods and grilled items, such as:
- Pulled Pork Sliders
- Pimento cheese with crackers
- Grilled chicken or shrimp skewers
- A simple Caprese salad
How To Store a Spiked Arnold Palmer
- Refrigerate: Store the mixed cocktail in a large, covered pitcher or a drink dispenser in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh and delicious for up to 3 days.
Spiked Arnold Palmer Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 glass (approx. 8 oz)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Protein: 0.2g
- Fat: 0g
- Sugar: 40g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes. While black tea is traditional for an Arnold Palmer, you could certainly experiment. A good quality green tea would make for a lighter, more delicate version.
Absolutely. This recipe makes over 6 quarts, perfect for a large party. To make a smaller batch, you can easily halve all of the ingredients to make a more manageable amount for a smaller gathering.
Yes. If you substitute the bourbon with vodka, the cocktail is traditionally called a “John Daly.” A good quality gin would also be a delicious, more botanical twist.
Try More Recipes:
- Pink Lemonade Sheet Cake Recipe
- Mixed Berry Scones Recipe
- Vanilla Ice Cream with Basil-Peach Topping Recipe
Spiked Arnold Palmer Recipe
Course: DrinksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy24
servings10
minutes5
minutes250
kcalA classic iced tea and lemonade cocktail gets a boozy upgrade with smooth bourbon and a refreshing hint of fresh mint.
Ingredients
-
5 family-sized black tea bags
-
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
-
4 cups granulated sugar
-
2 cups fresh, strained lemon juice
-
3 cups bourbon
-
Water
-
Ice, lemon slices, and mint for serving
Directions
- Boil 2 quarts of water. Remove from heat and steep the tea bags and mint for 5 minutes.
- Remove tea bags and whisk in the sugar until dissolved.
- Strain the sweet tea into a very large pitcher, discarding the mint.
- Stir in 4 quarts of cold water, the chilled lemon juice, and the bourbon.
- Serve over ice with lemon slices and fresh mint.
Notes
- Using freshly squeezed lemon juice is absolutely essential for the best, brightest flavor; do not use bottled concentrate.
- This is a very large-batch recipe perfect for a crowd. You can easily cut all the ingredients in half for a smaller pitcher.
- Taste the mixture before serving; you can always add a bit more lemon juice for tartness or a splash of water if it’s too strong.