John Daly
Vodka-spiked iced tea and lemonade highball.
Drink details
Glass
Highball Glass
Ice
Cubed
Method
Built
Strength
Medium
Servings
1
Recipe
Ingredients
Vodka
45 ml
Black Tea
Brewed and chilled
120 ml
Lemonade
Chilled
120 ml
Garnish
Lemon Slice
1 piece
Rating
Rate this drink
Method
Preparation
- 1
Fill a highball glass with ice.
- 2
Add the vodka.
- 3
Add the chilled black tea.
- 4
Add the lemonade and stir gently.
- 5
Garnish with a lemon slice.
About the John Daly
The John Daly is an alcoholic variation of the Arnold Palmer, combining iced tea and lemonade with vodka. Named after American golfer John Daly, the drink takes the familiar refreshing balance of tea and citrus and adds a clean alcoholic backbone. It is a simple, easy-drinking highball that is especially well suited to warm weather and casual occasions.
What does a John Daly taste like?
A John Daly tastes refreshing, citrusy and lightly sweet, with black tea providing mild bitterness and tannins, lemonade adding bright acidity and sweetness, and vodka contributing a clean alcoholic warmth. The tea and lemon flavors remain prominent, while the vodka gives the drink more structure without dominating the combination.
Tips for making a John Daly
Use freshly brewed black tea that has been completely cooled and preferably chilled before making the drink. Avoid over-steeping the tea, as excessive tannins can make the finished cocktail bitter or astringent. Keep the lemonade and vodka chilled and use plenty of fresh ice to minimize dilution. Because lemonade varies considerably in sweetness and acidity, taste the finished drink and adjust the balance with a little more tea or lemonade if needed.
Substitutions & Variations
No vodka?
A clean, neutral spirit works best if you want to preserve the tea-and-lemonade character. Gin can be used for a more botanical variation, while bourbon creates a richer, warmer version with more pronounced spirit flavor. These are variations rather than direct substitutes; vodka remains the most common choice for a John Daly.
No black tea?
Green tea produces a lighter, more delicate drink, while oolong gives it a more aromatic and rounded tea character. Decaffeinated black tea is the closest option if you want the familiar flavor with less caffeine. Avoid strongly flavored teas unless you deliberately want them to become a prominent part of the cocktail.
No lemonade?
You can make a simple substitute with fresh lemon juice, water and sugar or simple syrup. Adjust the sweetness and acidity until it resembles lemonade before adding it to the cocktail. Do not replace the lemonade with the same quantity of undiluted lemon juice, as the result will be far too acidic.
Want it less sweet?
Use a less-sweet lemonade or slightly increase the proportion of unsweetened black tea. This reduces the sweetness while preserving the basic character of the cocktail. If making your own lemonade, simply reduce the amount of sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a John Daly and an Arnold Palmer?
An Arnold Palmer is a non-alcoholic combination of iced tea and lemonade. A John Daly is the alcoholic variation, most commonly made by adding vodka to the iced-tea-and-lemonade combination. The two drinks therefore share the same basic tea-and-citrus character, but the John Daly includes a spirit.
Does a John Daly contain caffeine?
Usually, yes. A John Daly made with regular black tea contains caffeine naturally present in the tea. The exact amount depends on the tea and how it is brewed. If you want less caffeine, use decaffeinated black tea.
Why does my John Daly taste too bitter or astringent?
The black tea may have been brewed too strongly or steeped for too long. Over-steeping can extract more tannins, giving the cocktail an overly bitter or drying sensation. Brew the tea slightly stronger than usual if needed, but avoid excessive steeping and let it cool completely before making the drink.
Can I make a John Daly ahead of time?
Yes. The black tea can be brewed and chilled in advance, and the vodka, tea and lemonade can also be combined and refrigerated until needed. Keep the mixture cold and add the ice and lemon garnish only when serving to avoid unnecessary dilution.
Should the tea be cooled before making a John Daly?
Yes. Let the brewed tea cool completely and ideally chill it before making the cocktail. Adding hot or warm tea directly to the glass will melt the ice quickly, causing unnecessary dilution and making the finished drink less refreshing.
Can I make a John Daly less strong without changing the flavor too much?
Yes. Reduce the amount of vodka slightly while keeping the tea and lemonade in the same balance. This lowers the alcohol strength without significantly changing the drink's tea-and-lemonade character. Avoid simply adding water, as this can make the flavors taste diluted.
