John Daly Cocktail with Homemade Lemonade
This John Daly Cocktail is the one I have been making for as long as I can remember. Half homemade lemonade, half freshly brewed black tea, and a generous pour of vodka; it is the ultimate summer batch cocktail and it serves 4. The homemade lemonade is what sets this apart from every other version out there; fresh squeezed lemon juice and sugar stirred together with cold water makes a difference you can absolutely taste. Make it ahead, chill it in the fridge, and pour over ice when you’re ready.
We are big golf fans in our house, and this cocktail is our warm weather staple; on the porch, at a cookout, watching the tour. The John Daly is the spiked version of the classic Arnold Palmer, named after the legendary American golfer, and it is exactly as good as it sounds. If you love a good summer cocktail, you will also want to try my Transfusion Drink, Limoncello Spritz, and Strawberry Spritz with St-Germain.
Ingredients
First and foremost, you must use fresh lemon juice! Bottled juice will make the lemonade taste flat and slightly chemical, and that flavor carries through the whole drink. Roll your lemons on the counter before juicing to extract the most juice. For the tea, steep the black tea bags for exactly 5-7 minutes; longer than that and it turns bitter, which throws off the balance with the lemonade. Use a good quality vodka that is smooth and clean. And give the whole batch at least an hour in the fridge before serving; the flavors meld together and the drink tastes significantly better cold.
Step by Step Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water in a medium pot, remove from heat, and steep 3 black tea bags for 5-7 minutes. Remove the bags and let the tea cool to room temperature.
2. In a large pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar. Stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved.
3. Add 1 1/2 cups of cold water to the lemonade mixture and stir until combined.
4. Pour the cooled black tea into the pitcher and stir gently to combine.
5. Add the vodka, starting with 1/2 cup and adjusting to taste.
6. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve over ice, garnished with lemon slices and fresh mint.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see it! Tag @alliehagerty on Instagram and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below!
John Daly Cocktail with Homemade Lemonade
Equipment
- Medium pot
- Pitcher or jug
- Stirring spoon
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Knife and Cutting Board
- Juicer or citrus reamer
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 3 black tea bags
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice about 2-3 lemons
- 1 1/2 cups cold water
- 1/2 cup vodka adjust to taste
- Lemon slices
- Fresh mint
- Ice cubes
Instructions
Make the Iced Tea
- Start by boiling 2 cups of water in a medium pot.
- Remove the pot from heat and add the tea bags.
- Let the tea steep for 5-7 minutes to infuse its robust flavor.
- Once steeped, remove the tea bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
Prepare the Lemonade:
- In a pitcher or jug, combine freshly squeezed lemon juice and granulated sugar.
- Stir well until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of cold water to the pitcher with the lemonade mixture. Stir until well combined.
Combine and Chill:
- Pour the cooled black tea into the pitcher with the lemonade. Stir gently to blend the flavors.
- Pour in the vodka, starting with 1/2 cup and adjusting to taste. Stir well to incorporate.
- Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill the spiked Arnold Palmer for at least an hour.
- When you are ready to serve, fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the chilled John Daly over the ice. Garnish each glass with lemon slices and a sprig of fresh mint.
The best John Daly recipe ever! I love how this is made in one pitcher and everything is from scratch!
A summer staple, perfect for the porch, golf course, or anywhere else. Very easy to follow recipe and absolutely delicious. This is will be the drink of the summer at my house.
Made this for my golf-themed bachelorette weekend and it was such a hit! We drank this on repeat and everyone loved it!
Tried this John Daly cocktail recipe—easy and refreshing, perfect for backyard afternoons.