Homemade Sweet Tea Vodka (For Spiked Arnold Palmers Twisted Tea)

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I couldn’t let you go off into the firework-speckled sunset without a refreshing, fabulous, FUN project that’s practically made for the 4th of July, could I?

Homemade Sweet Tea Vodka paired with sweet lemonade, crushed ice, and a big ol’ lemon wedge is just the thing you need for this sizzling hot holiday weekend!

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Homemade Sweet Tea Vodka

Have you ever had sweet tea vodka before? Its essentially lightly sweetened tea made with vodka, instead of water. Can you say UPGRADE?! Hahahahahaha. I swear I haven’t had (m)any of these cocktails today.

There are several brands of popular Sweet Tea Vodkas on the market but, according to my research, none will confirm if they’re gluten free or not. Furthermore, since there’s no labeling laws around having to disclose what’s in a particular alcohol product, we have no idea what they contain in terms of added sugar, artificial flavoring, coloring, etc.

Trust me, there’s an easier way. Combine black tea bags and a bottle of vodka, steep, then lightly sweeten with simple syrup. 3 ingredients + 15 minutes = voila, homemade Sweet Tea Vodka!

How to Use Sweet Tea Vodka

There are two main ways I like to use sweet tea vodka:

Spiked Arnold Palmer: An Arnold Palmer, named after the legendary golfer, is a drink made from half lemonade half iced tea. A spiked Arnold Palmer (also called a John Daly) is Sweet Tea Vodka paired with lemonade. It’s as good as it sounds, and so refreshing on a hot day. I prefer a ratio of 2:1, lemonade to Sweet Tea Vodka, poured over ice and served with a fresh lemon wedge.
Twisted Tea: Combine water and Sweet Tea Vodka, again in a 2:1 ratio, in a glass with plenty of fresh lemon wedges and ice. Simple, classic, and instantly transports me to a rocking chair in front of a mature oak tree in the south a la Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood.

How Much Sweetener to Add

I like making sweet tea vodka myself because I get to decide how much sweetener to add. Instead of granulated sugar, I use simple syrup which is equal parts sugar and water heated until clear. If you plan on pairing your Sweet Tea Vodka mostly with lemonade I recommend adding 2 – 4 Tablespoons simple syrup to the tea vodka. If you plan on drinking it with plain water, I’d add somewhere between 6 – 8 Tablespoons simple syrup.

Remember, you can always add more sweetener, but you can’t take it away!

How to Make Homemade Sweet Tea Vodka

First gather your supplies: you’ll need a 750ml bottle of Vodka and cold brew iced tea bags. If you can’t find cold brew ice tea bags you can use standard tea bags. I always go with Tito’s and Lipton, respectively, which are gluten free.

Pour the vodka into a pitcher or large mason jar then add 4 cold brew tea bags and let steep, undisturbed for 15 minutes. If you’re using regular tea bags, steep until the liquid is a dark, rich amber color — up to 2 hours. Don’t let the vodka get too dark – over-steeping can cause tea to become bitter.

Remove the bags one by one then squeeze the excess vodka out with your fingers into the jar. Don’t waste a drop!

Next add simple syrup to the tea vodka. Simply combine equal parts sugar and water in a microwave safe jar or container then microwave until clear — just a minute or two. You can do this several days ahead of time.

Again, go on the lighter side if you’ll mostly be pairing the Sweet Tea Vodka with lemonade, or a little heavier if you’ll be mostly pairing with water.

That’s all she wrote! Funnel the Sweet Tea Vodka back into the vodka bottle then store in the fridge so it’s nice and chilled when you’re ready for a cool drink.