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Resembling iced tea in color only, Long Island Iced Tea is a strong (but surprisingly tasty) mixed drink made with gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, vodka, and a splash of cola. Iโve stirred up hundreds of these cocktails in my life and worked out the best possible ratios so you can just mix, sip, and enjoy.
Megganโs notes
As a classically-trained chef with loads of cocktail-making experience, I nailed down the ideal ratios in a Long Island Iced Tea. Long Islands are made with more types of liquors than you can shake a stick at, and thatโs a fact. The surprise comes when you taste the thing and realize that, against all odds, it tastes good.
The secret to the best Long Island is to mix the 5 liquors in equal proportions. That way, no one particular alcohol stands out and overpowers the rest. Some restaurants and bars add sour mix, but I prefer the taste of simple syrup (sweetness without the grit of straight sugar) with fresh lemon juice instead.
Finally, top the whole concoction with a splash of cola. This adds fizz, sweetness, and color to complete the illusion that youโre sipping on iced tea.
Table of Contents
What is a Long Island Iced Tea?
Long Island Iced Tea is a cocktail made with five different kinds of complimentary liquors: gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, and vodka. The alcohols are all clear in color (โlightโ or โwhiteโ according to the labels), and a splash of cola adds the necessary brown coloring to give the appearance of tea. Fresh lemon juice and simple syrup add extra flavor and sweetness.
History is conflicted one where Long Island Iced Tea originated: New York or Tennessee? The New York version was allegedly created by Robert โRosebudโ Butt as his entry into a contest for cocktails featuring triple sec. This happened in 1972 and he was working at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, New York.
The more charming story says that Long Island Iced Tea was created during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s in Long Island, Tennessee. Legend has it that a gentleman by the name of โOld Man Bishopโ created his version which contained 5 liquors (none of them triple sec), whiskey, and maple syrup. His son tweaked it further by adding cola, lemon, and lime.
Long Island Tea Recipe Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
- Gin: Choose a classic London dry gin such as Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire or Bombay Dry, Beefeater, Sipsmith, or Bloom.
- Tequila: Choose tequila blanco, aka silver (light-colored) tequila, which has not been aged. This lighter tequila is great for mixed drinks. For a smoky variation, try mezcal.
- Triple sec: Any orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier will do. In fact, I usually splurge on this ingredient whenever possible.
- Vodka: Any quality brand vodka works in a Long Island. I usually have Absolut on hand, but Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Belvedere, and Ketel One are all solid choices.
- White rum: Choose a white or light-colored rum such as Bacardi Silver or Bacardi Superior White Rum. Captain Morgan White Rum is another good option.
- Lemon juice: Lemon juice mixed with the splash of Cola for fizz mimics the taste of sour mix but with a lighter, fresher flavor. Slice extra lemons for garnish.
- Simple syrup: To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
- Cola: Coca-cola or any other brown cola soda adds the color that mimics the appearance of iced tea. It also adds a welcome fizziness.
How to Make Long Island Tea
- Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in the gin, tequila, triple sec, vodka, white rum, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Using a bar spoon, gently stir. Top with cola. Garnish with lemon slice and serve.
Best Long Island Iced Tea Recipe Variations
- Yield:ย This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware: Long Island Iced Tea is traditionally made in a highball glass, an 8-ounce to 12-ounce glass tumbler such as a Collins glass.
- Big batch:ย To make a batch of 8 cocktails, combine 6 ounces (ยพ cup) EACH of gin, tequila, triple sec, vodka, and white rum in a pitcher. Add 2 ounces (ยผ cup) EACH lemon juice, simple syrup, and cola. Have ice, glassware, and lemon wedges on hand so guests can help themselves.
- Sour mix: For lemon-lime flavor, replace the lemon juice with sour mix.
- More mixers: Try iced tea or Diet Coke in place of the cola.
- Grateful Dead: Substitute Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) for the triple sec and lemon-lime soda for the cola.
- Tokyo Iced Tea: Substitute Midori (Japanese melon liqueur) for the triple sec and lemon-lime soda for the cola.
- Long Beach Iced Tea: Substitute cranberry juice for the cola.
- Hawaiian Iced Tea: Substitute pineapple juice for the cola.
Best Gin for Long Island Iced Tea
The best gin for a Long Island Iced Tea is a London dry gin. London dry gin is not necessarily made in London, or even in the UK, but can be made anywhere. It just needs to follow a specific distillation process to carry that label.
London dry gin, like all gins, are flavored with juniper berries. These small, hard seed-like berries add a piney flavor to the gin. London dry gin may also be infused with other flavors during the distillation process such as coriander, citrus peels, or angelica root. However, unlike regular gins, no colors or flavors can be added after distillation, nor can sugar or any other sweeteners be added.
The reason London dry gin is best for a Long Island Iced Tea is because it has a strong, complimentary flavor but no added colors or sweeteners. Some of the best brands are popular ones such as Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater, and Tanqueray gin.
Best Rum for Long Island Iced Tea
The best rum for a Long Island Iced Tea is a white rum such as Bacardi Silver or Captain Morganโs White Rum. With their comparatively short aging timelines and stainless steel tanks (verses the oak barrels and long aging processes of dark rum), white rum has a light, mild flavor that mixes well with the numerous other liquids in a Long Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not iced tea, thatโs for sure! In a tall glass filled with ice, add gin, tequila, triple sec, vodka, white rum, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir gently, top with a splash of cola, and garnish with a slice of lemon.
This cocktail was allegedly created by Bob โRosebudโ Butt on Long Island, New York in 1972. Bob Butt created the drink for a competition, and the rest is history.
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Best Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
Ingredientsย
- 3/4 ounce gin (1 tablespoon plus 1 ยฝ teaspoons)
- 3/4 ounce tequila (1 tablespoon plus 1 ยฝ teaspoons, see note 1)
- 3/4 ounce triple sec (1 tablespoon plus 1 ยฝ teaspoons, see note 2)
- 3/4 ounce vodka (1 tablespoon plus 1 ยฝ teaspoons)
- 3/4 ounce white rum (1 tablespoon plus 1 ยฝ teaspoons)
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice (1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup (1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 ounce cola for topping (1 tablespoon)
- 1 slice lemon for garnish
Instructionsย
- Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the gin, tequila, triple sec, vodka, white rum, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Using a bar spoon, gently stir. Top with cola. Garnish with lemon slice and serve.
Notes
- Tequila: Choose tequila blanco, aka silver tequila, which has not been aged. This lighter tequila is great for mixed drinks.
- Triple sec: Or substitute another orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
- Simple syrup: To make it yourself, combine 1 c. water and 1 c. sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
- Yield:ย This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware: Long Island Iced Tea is traditionally made in a highball glass, an 8-oz. to 12-oz. glass tumbler such as a Collins glass.