Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.
I was raised in a golf household. My dad was a high school golf coach. Not a good one, mind you, but he cared. There were plenty of weekends lost to the Travelers Championship or Greater Milwaukee Open as a kid.
As a result, I spent some time at the driving range, walked some municipal courses with some flea market knock-off clubs and was generally indifferent toward golf. Until I became an adult and realized you could spend most of your round with a drink in your hand. Golf, much like watching baseball or playing slow-pitch softball, is much better with a beverage.
This week’s sipper combines those worlds. Arnold Palmer’s pour of choice, a half lemonade, half iced tea glass of simple pleasure, has always been a fertile spot to plant booze. Add some vodka or bourbon or Southern Comfort to it and you’ve got what I’d always heard as a John Daly. But Arnie’s estate is branching out, so what we’ve got is the officially branded Arnold Palmer spiked bevvy. He’s right there on the can — signature and trademark multi-colored umbrella and all.
Does it live up to the Palmer standard? Is it at least as good as the Arizona Iced Teas that bear his name? Let’s crack this can.