Melody's Arnold Palmer

The best way to relax and cool down after a long day outdoors!

Okay, this recipe might be cheating a little bit. I mean, it's really simple, is it really worth a whole blog post? 

My answer is yes, because I love Arnold Palmers. Is there anything more refreshing than something that's a little sweet, a little caffeinated, and a little tart? No. No, there isn't. 

Besides that, they do have some interesting trivia behind them, and they're very iconically 1960's. After a long day working on improving her community park or her own garden, Melody could kick back and enjoy this mocktail with her friends and family. Maybe she even would have made it herself!

The Arnold Palmer is a little different from the Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers because rather than being a drink named after a celebrity just to profit off their fame, this is a mocktail that was actually created by Mr. Palmer himself. For those who didn't have a grandfather with a huge enthusiasm for professional golf after working as a caddy at the New Haven Country Club in his youth, Arnold Palmer was the first golf superstar, emerging in the 1950's just as the sport started entering American homes through the magical little box known as the television. Palmer was considered especially unique and important in the sport's history because he came from humble origins, and himself was a plain spoken, average guy, making other average Americans realize they too could participate in what was - up to that point - considered a sport only the wealthy could really enjoy. When asking my grandfather about it, he explained that before Palmer, professional golfers were looked down on by the upper class and seen as sleazy individuals. When they'd show up for tournaments, they'd often have to use the kitchen quarters instead of staying at the club! 

My grandfather explained that Palmer also had an awkward swing, and tended to have come from behind victories, trailing during the first holes only to have a "Palmer Charge" and snatch the title away almost last minute, making for an exciting round of golf to watch. Fans loved him because he interacted with them, giving golf balls to kids in the audience, and for his charity work. 

In the 1960's, Palmer was a household name, and along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Palmer helped popularize golf around the world. His career spanned six decades, and he won an impressive 62 PGA titles. 

At some point in the 1960's, Palmer was at a golf course in Palm Springs, California and ordered an unique drink to go with his lunch: three parts unsweetened ice tea to one part lemonade. Palmer then overheard a fellow diner ask the waiter "I'll have that Arnold Palmer drink, too." 

And so the classic mocktail was born. Once the drink caught on, Arnold Palmer would order it by asking for a "Mr. Palmer." At the country club in his home town, Arnold Palmers would be served to him or his wife before they even put in their orders. While out grocery shopping, Jess and I discovered the man himself even appears on Arizona Iced Tea's ice tea and lemonade combinations, no doubt to appeal to his fans and reference the original drink. 

For such a simple concoction, it's surprisingly easy to wreck an Arnold Palmer. To make an Arnold Palmer the way he himself preferred it, you need to make a drink with three parts ice tea and one part lemonade. If you do equal parts tea and lemonade, it's technically a Half & Half, not a true Arnold Palmer. Sweetened ice tea makes the drink too sweet, which I admittedly didn't mind so much as a kiddo but now find kind of gross as an adult. Funny how taste buds change, isn't it?

Arnold Palmers tend to be things I order at restaurants vs. something I make in my own home, but after whipping some up, I think I might need to make this a regular thing, especially in summer time. It's been brutally hot these last few weeks, making it hard to ever want to be outside even for a little bit, and coming back inside after snapping these pictures to sip on my drink was insanely refreshing. It's been nice to have them to come home to after work, too! 

I hope you enjoyed this look back at one of my favorite summer drinks. How have you been beating the heat this summer?

We could use all the suggestions you've got!