The history of Arnold Palmer’s signature drink

Regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, Arnold Palmer, who died last month at 87 of complications from heart problems, was known throughout the golf world as “The King.” On the course he was notoriously charismatic, celebrated for his go-for-broke-style and sportsmanship, and admired for his casually cool aesthetic.

In honor of Palmer’s champion career, we’re celebrating one of his greatest legacies: the Arnold Palmer. Because like GQ said, “you don’t get a drink named after you if you’re not stylish as hell.”

“Iced tea has the dominant side, that dominates the drink. And, if it doesn’t, it isn’t really right.”
+ In his honor, let's raise a glass of his signature drink

In a recent ESPN short film, Palmer explained the drink’s genesis. “My wife made a lot of iced tea for lunch, and I said, ‘Hey babe, I’ve got an idea.’ You make the iced tea and make a big pitcher, and we’ll just put a little lemonade in it and see how that works. We mixed it up, and I got the solution about where I wanted it and I put the lemonade in it. I had it for lunch after working on the golf course. I thought, ‘Boy, this is great, babe. I’m going to take it when I play golf. I’m going to take a thermos of iced tea and lemonade,'” he said. From there, rumor has it Palmer ordered the hybrid concoction at a bar. Overhearing his order, a woman then asked for the same–calling it an Arnold Palmer. The drink “spread like wildfire,” Palmer told ESPN.

Mix 3 parts iced tea to 1 part lemonade and toast an Arnold Palmer to “the King” tonight.

+ Arnold Palmer in action during the 1966 US Open Golf Championship at Olympic Country Club, San Francisco, California. Photo via AP
  • Story by Ariel Katz

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