Yahoo Lifestyle The Correct Way to Make an Arnold Palmer, According to Arnold Palmer Himself
Known for his legacy both on and off the fairway, the late Arnold Palmer did just as much for the beverage industry as he did for golf. Throughout his career, Palmer finished first in more than 90 tournaments and also became the first person to ever make $1 million just playing the sport. He’s credited with bringing golf to the mainstream, as well as with ordering the first official iced tea and lemonade combination known to man.
Before his name became synonymous with the beverage of the summer, Palmer had already garnered himself quite the following that would help boost the popularity of the eponymous drink. Palmer’s fans were known as Arnie’s Army and they followed him to PGA Tour events like music fans. The Arnold Palmer drink as we know it today is said to have been invented by the golfer in the late 1950’s, but how exactly did the PGA-winning athlete prefer it to be made?
Related: How to Make Your Lemonade Taste 10x Better
What Is an Arnold Palmer?
As legend has it, while ordering lunch at a golf course in Palm Springs, California, Palmer requested the tangy yet sweet combination of iced tea with his lemonade. The golfer's order quickly caught the attention of a woman sitting nearby, who promptly asked the waitress for “that Palmer drink” to try for herself. The mixture quickly became a huge hit, popularized by fans of golf and Palmer alike, and the “Arnold Palmer” was officially born.
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How to Make an Arnold Palmer Like Arnold Palmer
For a drink that requires just three ingredients to make, an Arnold Palmer is pretty hard to mess up. Simply toss some ice in a cup, fill the cup halfway with tea (sweetened or unsweetened) and top it with lemonade. Right? Well, not if ol’ Arnie has anything to say about it.
Back in 2009, ESPN gave fans an exclusive peek at exactly how the legendary golfer makes his prized drink. In an ad that aired during the 2009 Steelers vs. Cardinals Super Bowl XLIII, Palmer can be seen preparing his own Arnold Palmer drink in the ESPN cafeteria. He starts by adding some tea to his cup, followed by lemonade—then he tops it off with more tea.
As Palmer pours his drink, the commercial shows two ESPN officials waiting in line behind him, both of which are gawking over Palmer's unique method. “That was awesome,” whispered one official in amazement. The other quietly responds in awe, “I know.”
This seemingly Palmer-approved "sandwich" approach is interesting because it means that if you don't mix the drink you'll taste tea before the lemonade. We're definitely going to give it a shot the next time we make the iconic drink and raise a glass to Arnie.
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