Sweet Nectar of the Gods

I don't think it's any huge surprise to anyone that the Halfstreet enjoys a good cocktail. To this end, we are always willing to try new things. So when we received two independent recommendations for Sweet Tea Vodka (Rog and NKC) we were intrigued. But I wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to try it because well, I don't like iced tea. Sweet or otherwise. The HSH either forgot this or chose to ignore it (I'm guessing the later) because a relatively quick errand that he and Rog went on this weekend, turned into a 4 hour escapade that took them to not one but four liquor stores to procure not one but two different brands of this stuff (and no, per usual, it wasn't on the list they were sent with). Sweet Carolina and Firefly. Apparently we had a taste test on our hands.

Right off the bat, we were suspect of Sweet Carolina because despite the name, it's distilled in Maine. And what the heck do they know about Sweet Tea in Maine? Turns out nothing, because this stuff tastes like total crap. I just assumed that is what the whole universe of sweet tea vodkas was like because like I mentioned before I DON'T DRINK TEA! I took one sip of the vodka/water that Rog made for me, tried not to puke in mouth, and went upstairs to leave the boys to their tasting. While upstairs though, I had a total flash of brilliance: Arnold Palmers! This, for the unenlightened, is equal parts tea and lemonade, which contrary to straight-up iced tea, I love! I raced downstairs to tell the boys my inspiration, and they laughed and said that was actually recommended on the bottle. Guess I should read more. Anyway, they also filled me in that the second stuff, Firefly, was 100% better than the Sweet Carolina, and actually distilled in a place where they know about sweet tea. I gave a quick sip of their vodka/waters to confirm this (check) and then pulled my can of frozen lemonade concentrate out of the freezer. Now, when I was growing up, my mom used to keep this stuff in the refrigerator, opened, with a piece of saran wrap on top, and would put a spoonful in her tea at any given point. I figured 'what's good for the goose' and whatnot, and skipped the step of actually making the lemonade. The resulting drink was pure heaven.

To recap, our newfangled Arnold Palmer's (new name: A Drunk Arnold Palmer? A John Daly?)
1 part Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
1 part Water
1 heaping spoonful of frozen lemonade concentrate

Serve over ice and enjoy while thanking Rog, NKC and the Halfstreet for bringing you this little slice of heaven.