Head to head

Arnold Palmer vs. Virgin Piña Colada

Arnold Palmer and Virgin Piña Colada side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

They have no ingredient in common: the Arnold Palmer has iced tea and lemonade, the Virgin Piña Colada pineapple juice, cream of coconut, cream and milk. In parts, an Arnold Palmer is 2 iced tea and 1 lemonade; a Virgin Piña Colada is 5½ pineapple, 2 coconut, 1 cream and 1 milk. By volume, the Arnold Palmer is 100% mixer and juice; the Virgin Piña Colada is 100% mixer and juice. Different bottles, similar balance: that makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

They are about equally strong in the glass (both 0.0% ABV), and they hold about the same alcohol (0.00 standard drinks each). The Virgin Piña Colada has more calories (about 351 against 26) and more sugar (42.4 g against 6.2 g). The Arnold Palmer is built and served in a highball; the Virgin Piña Colada is blended and served in a hurricane glass.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurArnold PalmerVirgin Piña Colada

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.

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