Rumors have it that the beloved Long Island Iced Tea was born on a beach in Long Island. But, that might not be true. It is very likely that the Long Island Iced Tea was born at TGI Fridays. Keeping its origins aside, on a list of the most popular cocktails, the delightful and refreshing Long Island Tea comes at the top of the list. 

Every bartender around the world knows how to make this potent cocktail, and has possibly given birth to their variation of it. The Long Island Iced Tea is one hot mess of a drink and comes with a bad (or good) reputation of getting people drunk fast. It is very boozy and succeeds very well, as most cocktails fail. If you are a regular bar goer, you have probably tried the Long Island Iced Tea. Or, if you have no clue, we have got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about the Long Island Iced Tea.

What Is Long Island Iced Tea? 

First things first, there is no “tea” in Long Island Iced Tea. However, it is called so because just like iced tea, this Long Island iced tea cocktail is very refreshing and tastes like a summer’s day. 

Long Island Iced Tea is a very potent cocktail that is made with five distilled spirits (yes, you heard that right) including triple sec, sour mix, and Coca-Cola. This drink is simple enough to make at home if you have all the ingredients. There isn’t much to say about this particular Long Island Iced Tea cocktail. It is a one and done cocktail, a popular favorite that has been around for generations. Yes, the Long Island Iced Tea has been around since 1970. 

With a notorious reputation for getting people to drink easily, this cocktail is a favorite of every 20 something year old. With that being said, this cocktail is served at many establishments with their variations of the OG. From juicy and fruity extracts to citrusy pulps and even pieces of cut strawberries, there are many unique variations to pick from! If you’re looking for the perfect Long Island Iced Tea recipes, follow this one!

Long Island Iced Tea Recipe

Long Island Iced Tea Ingredients:

• ¾ ounce of Vodka
• ¾ ounce of white rum
• ¾ ounce of silver or Blanco tequila
• ¾ ounce of triple sec
• ¾ ounce of gin
• ¾ ounce of sour mix
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Coca-cola
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• Lemon wedges (for garnishing purposes)

Additional Tip: To spike the taste and enhance the senses, you can add peppermint leaves, mint extracts, or fruits.

Instructions:

1. Fill a tall Collin’s glass with ice and drop in one or two lemon wedges.
2. Pour the alcohol, that is, the gin, vodka, white rum, triple sec, and Blanco tequila along with the sour mix and simple syrup.
3. Stir the drink well.
4. Top the drink with a splash of Coca-Cola and stir again.
5. Garnish with mint leaves or a lemon wedge and serve chilled.

Note: Make sure that you don’t overpour the liquor as it may throw the drink off the balance.

Long Island Iced Tea Recipe Variations

When a drink is this popular, there are bound to be several variations of it. Among the thousand variations that exist, we have handpicked some of the best ones.

Here are some of the most popular variations of the Long Island Iced Tea recipe.

1. If you want a rather mellower and diluted taste of the harsh alcohols, you can shake the liquors along with the sour mix and strain it into a glass filled with ice. This “shaking the drink” approach facilitates dilution of the alcohol and restores balance among the harshness.
2. If you want a more “iced tea” like flavor, you can skip the sour mix and instead switch it with simple syrup and freshly pressed lemon juice.
3. If you want a stronger and more potent touch, then you can always increase the quantity of the liquor. But, remember to be careful and responsible.

Also read: Rum Collins Recipe You Must Try Once!

5 Similar Cocktails

The Long Island iced tea has inspired a number of similar cocktails. Therefore, if you liked the taste of the LTTE, here are some other ones that you should try:

1. Texas tea

The recipe is the same as the Long Island Iced Tea, except this one is more potent. Just follow the same sour mix, five distilled spirits, and simple syrup recipe and add Bourbon to it. 

2. Long Beach Iced Tea

This recipe, too, contains everything from the original recipe except, the Coca-Cola is replaced with fresh cranberry juice. 

3. Miami Iced Tea

In this recipe, the tequila is replaced with peach schnapps and lemon-lime soda is added. This is a much mellower version of the Long Island Iced Tea.

4. Electric iced Tea

The triple sec is replaced with blue curacao and lemon-lime soda is added.

5. Hawaiian Iced Tea

A classic, in this cocktail drink, the Coca-Cola is replaced with fresh pineapple juice.

We hope you liked this special recipe for the Long Island Iced Tea. Next time you throw a house party, you know what you are serving!