What better way to celebrate today’s Iced Tea Day than with a chilled glass of iced tea with a twist of lemonade? This beverage is best known on the golf course as the Arnold Palmer, coined after “The King” of golf himself. As his popularity rose, so did his fan base, known as “Arnie’s Army”.  Fans admired his every action on the course, and even began to notice his beverage of choice – part tea, part lemonade.

History of the Drink

A short film entitled “The Arnold Palmer” sets the story straight about the origin of this popular drink:

“One evening after a long day of designing a course in Palm Springs during the 1960s, Arnold Palmer stepped up to a bar and asked the bartender for a mixture of lemonade and iced tea. A woman sitting next to him overheard what he ordered and told the bartender, ‘I’ll have that Palmer drink.’ From that moment on, this refreshing lemonade-iced tea beverage became known as an ‘Arnold Palmer,’ and its name gradually spread throughout the golfing world and beyond into mainstream America.”

Arnold Palmer’s Career & Achievements

With tea and lemonade in his cup, Arnold Palmer sipped his way to 92 total career wins. Overall, he achieved seven major championship wins, which include four Masters, one U.S. Open and two British Opens. A legend on the course, Palmer’s last major win came at the 1964 Masters. The victory made Palmer the first golfer to win the Masters Tournament four times (1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964).

The Drink Today

Just like the golf legend himself, Arnold Palmer’s legendary beverage quickly gained popularity. Today, an “Arnold Palmer” can be recognizably ordered at golf clubs across the country, including Golden Ocala. Off the course, the mixture can be purchased at jiffy stores in tall aluminum cans produced by Arizona Beverage Company and other mass production companies. The producers alike have tweaked the original recipe by adding variations of fruit flavors and creating healthier options with green tea.

Order a cup of freshly made tea with a twist of lemonade today from Knickers to celebrate Ice Tea Day. One sip and you won’t be able to resist!