Start by pouring 4 cups of water into a medium pot and bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Once the water starts bubbling, turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Let them steep for about 5 minutes.

The first time I made this, I left the tea bags in too long and the tea got bitter. Five minutes seems to be the sweet spot. You want the tea strong enough to stand up to the lemonade, but not harsh.

Remove the tea bags and stir in the sugar while the tea is still warm. Keep stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. Let the tea cool completely before moving on. If you mix hot tea with ice too early, the whole drink tastes watered down.

While the tea cools, slice your lemons for garnish and squeeze the extra lemon juice you’ll use in the drink. Add the lemonade and fresh lemon juice into a large pitcher.

I noticed that fresh lemon juice wakes up the whole flavor. Even if you use store-bought lemonade, adding a little fresh lemon makes it taste more homemade.

If your lemonade is very tart, you can add the tablespoon of simple syrup. I usually taste the lemonade first before deciding.

Once the sweet tea has cooled, pour 2 cups into the pitcher with the lemonade mixture. Stir slowly with a wooden spoon until fully combined.

At this point the color should look like a lighter amber shade. The smell is really good already — kind of like an Arnold Palmer but brighter and sweeter.

If the mixture tastes too strong, add a few tablespoons of cold water. Different teas brew differently, so sometimes you may need a small adjustment.

Pour the coconut rum into the pitcher and stir gently again. Don’t dump it in too quickly over ice or the flavors won’t blend evenly.

The coconut smell might seem strong at first, but after mixing it settles into the drink nicely. What worked better for me was chilling the rum beforehand. Cold rum keeps the ice from melting too fast.

Taste the drink before serving. If you want it stronger, add another splash of rum. If you want it lighter, add extra lemonade.

Fill tall glasses with plenty of ice cubes. Pour the Porch Rocker drink over the ice and garnish with lemon slices and mint if using.

I usually let the pitcher sit in the fridge for about 20 minutes before serving if I have time. The flavors blend together better after chilling.

The finished drink should taste smooth, citrusy, slightly sweet, and really cold. You’ll notice the tea flavor first, then the lemonade, and the coconut rum comes through at the end.