This sweet tea vodka lemonade is the perfect summer cocktail. It’s basically a spiked Arnold Palmer, featuring sweet tea vodka balanced by tart, refreshing lemonade. Enjoy it by the glass or by the pitcher with friends. It’s the ultimate backyard barbecue cocktail!
This sweet tea vodka lemonade is so easy to make – in fact there are only 2 required ingredients!
Of course, you can add garnishes and modify the mix a bit depending on your preferences and how strong you like your drinks to taste.
It’s just the perfect cocktail to sip and relax on a warm summer evening, but I also love making a pitcher for camping, game day, or the tailgate!
What You’ll Need: Ingredients
For a Single Serving:
2 Ounces sweet tea vodka (such as Firefly, Deep Eddy, Seagram’s, or Sweet Carolina)
3 Ounces lemonade
Ice cubes
For a Pitcher (Serves 5-6):
3 Cups lemonade
2 Cups sweet tea vodka
1 Cup sweet tea
Ice cubes
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Any type of lemonade is fine. You can use premade store bought (like Simply Lemonade), make homemade, or use a powdered mix. Plain lemonade is traditional, but feel free to substitute peach, raspberry, or strawberry lemonade as well!
I’m using Sweet Carolina sweet tea vodka because that’s what my local liquor store carries. However, other popular brands include Firefly, Seagram’s, and Deep Eddy
For a weaker single serving drink, use 1 ounce of sweet tea (non-alcoholic) and just 1 ounce of the sweet tea vodka instead. For a weaker pitcher, reduce the vodka to 1 cup and keep the rest the same
Sweet tea vodka lemonade proportions are normally 2:3 vodka to lemonade. However, when making a pitcher I find you need the extra sweet tea to balance it correctly
Feel free to garnish with lemon slices or mint
How to Make Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade
Add lemonade and sweet tea vodka to a glass or pitcher and stir to combine
Fill glass or pitcher with ice
Serve chilled, with a sprig of mint or slice of lemon to garnish
What to Serve With Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade
Deviled eggs
Pretzels
Chips and salsa
Fried chicken
Sandwiches
Steaks
Burgers
Hot dogs
Bratwurst
Pizza
Pasta salad
Potato salad
Cucumber salad
Fruit salad
Scones
Tea cakes
There are many great appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts that pair well with sweet tea vodka lemonades. In fact, if you find it at a summer cookout, it’s probably going to taste great with your spiked Arnold Palmers.
A sweet tea and vodka drink which includes lemonade is called a John Daly, or may also be referred to as a spiked Arnold Palmer, which is traditionally non alcoholic. In both cases, they are named after golfers.
There is no name currently for a cocktail that’s just tea with vodka added to it.
What Does Sweet Tea Vodka Taste Like?
Sweet tea vodka tastes like sweet tea at the onset, and then the sweetness fades to more of a bitterness and the bite of traditional vodka.
Pairing with lemonade helps to hide the bitterness with acidity for a smoother taste.
Do You Have to Refrigerate Sweet Tea Vodka?
No, you do not have to refrigerate sweet tea vodka.
However, it is considered best enjoyed when chilled. Whether you choose to refrigerate your bottle or serve over ice is up to you.
What Can You Mix With Sweet Tea Vodka?
Sweet tea vodka goes well mixed with lemonade, limeade, club soda, cranberry juice, strawberry puree, and other fruit juices.
Garnishes of lemon, lime, and mint are the most popular combinations.
Recipe Pro Tips
You can also add your sweet tea vodka lemonade and ice to a blender and pulse to create a daiquiri-like consistency with crushed ice
Storage Tips
You can store sweet tea vodka lemonade in a pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Just pour over ice when you’re ready to serve
If you add fruit to your drink (such as sliced lemons) then you reduce the time it will keep to about 3 days
This sweet tea vodka lemonade, or spiked Arnold Palmer, is such a refreshing summer cocktail. It takes just minutes to throw together and is perfect for barbecues, tailgates, and other parties.
I love that it’s so easy to adjust to taste. You can add more vodka if you want a stronger drink, or use lemonade and regular sweet tea to balance it out for less alcohol.
Garnish with fresh mint or a lemon slice for the perfect summery sip! This cocktail pairs well with anything that comes off the grill, making it perfect poolside and for backyard parties.
Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade Recipe
This sweet tea vodka lemonade is the perfect summer cocktail, great for barbecues and tailgates. It’s only 3 ingredients, and a pitcher is ready to share in 5 minutes or less.
Serve chilled, with a sprig of mint or slice of lemon to garnish if desired
Notes
Any type of lemonade is fine. You can use premade store bought (like Simply Lemonade), make homemade, or use a powdered mix. Plain lemonade is traditional, but feel free to substitute peach, raspberry, or strawberry lemonade as well!
I’m using Sweet Carolina sweet tea vodka because that’s what my local liquor store carries. However, other popular brands include Firefly, Seagram’s, and Deep Eddy
For a weaker single serving drink, use 1 ounce of sweet tea (non-alcoholic) and just 1 ounce of the sweet tea vodka instead. For a weaker pitcher, reduce the vodka to 1 cup and keep the rest the same
Sweet tea vodka lemonade proportions are normally 2:3 vodka to lemonade. However, when making a pitcher I find you need the extra sweet tea to balance it correctly
Feel free to garnish with lemon slices or mint
You can also add your sweet tea vodka lemonade and ice to a blender and pulse to create a daiquiri-like consistency with crushed ice
You can store sweet tea vodka lemonade in a pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Just pour over ice when you’re ready to serve
If you add fruit to your drink (such as sliced lemons) then you reduce the time it will keep to about 3 days
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any modifications, and total quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
