Long Island Iced Tea cocktail is a bold and complex cocktail made from a mix of five different spirits and several other ingredients. Despite its name, this drink contains no tea at all—its iced-tea-like color simply disguises its true, potent nature. The flavor is both rich and refreshing: cola lends sweetness, lemon juice brings a tart brightness, and together they balance the punch of the various spirits. Thanks to its high alcohol content, it’s not exactly the first drink you’d recommend to a beginner cocktail enthusiast.
History
The origins of Long Island Iced Tea are debated, but the most widely accepted story credits Robert “Rosebud” Butt, a New York bartender at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, with its creation in the 1970s. Initially mixed for a contest, its strong yet smooth character quickly won fans, earning it a spot on bar menus worldwide.
Ingredients
½ oz (15 ml) vodka
½ oz (15 ml) white rum
½ oz (15 ml) tequila
½ oz (15 ml) gin
½ oz (15 ml) triple sec (orange liqueur)
⅚ oz (25 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 oz (30 ml) sugar syrup
Cola (to top up)
How to Make Long Island Iced Tea
Fill a tall highball glass with ice. Add the vodka, white rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec. Pour in the fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup. Top up with quality cola and stir well. There’s no need for a shaker—this cocktail is built directly in the glass.
Serving and Garnish
Long Island Iced Tea is traditionally served in a highball or Collins glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon or lime on the rim, or add a straw. The dark cola and bright citrus give the drink both elegance and refreshment.
Calorie Content
One Long Island Iced Tea cocktail serving contains around 220 calories. It’s far from a “light” choice, even by cocktail standards—but with so many ingredients, that’s hardly surprising.