This is a classic recipe for the iconic Long Island Iced tea cocktail that will be a hit at any party you’re hosting!
This is the original recipe for this cocktail, as close as it’s possible to the International Bartenders Association (IBA)’s recipe.
Gina’s Recipe Rundown:
Alcohol content. Long Island iced tea cocktail is a strong drink. It has 22% of alcohol, more than most highball cocktails. One serving has whooping 5 ounces of alcohol!
Taste. It actually is delicious despite just mixing strong spirits together. The flavor is balanced, and no individual spirit is overpowering the mix.
Ease. You just mix equal parts of five liquors and boom, it is ready – nothing is easier than that!
Why I love it: I just love myself a good classic cocktail with clean taste and quality alcohol.
My best tip to make this beloved drink is to use cola to adjust the flavors. It can bring the alcohol taste down and make the drink a bit sweeter.
Hosting a party? Try my Limoncello Spritz, yummy Rum punch, Watermelon Margarita, or classy Espresso Martini served in a pretty glass.
Why Is It Called Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail?
The Long Island Iced Tea cocktail gets its name from Long Island, New York, where it was first created.
The story goes that during the Prohibition era in the 1920s, when alcohol was illegal, a bartender named “Old Man Bishop” mixed 5 different spirits together and added a splash of lime juice, lemon, cola, and maple syrup to mimic the look of regular iced tea.
This clever disguise allowed people to enjoy the drink without drawing attention. Despite its name, this cocktail doesn’t contain any actual tea. It’s called an “iced tea” because the final mixture looks a lot like the color of iced tea, thanks to the cola.
However, another legend says that the cocktail was born in the early 1970s when a bartender participating in a contest was experimenting with triple sec cocktails.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A fun cocktail to make with what you have in the liquor cabinet.
- This mixed drink is a big party hit not just among college students, but the older generation, too.
- Perfect for spring and summer parties.
- Great cocktail for slow drinkers, you can sip on it at your own pace.
Ingredients Notes
See the recipe card below for the ingredient quantities and printable instructions.
- Vodka
- White rum. Get a good light rum to work as the base spirit. Dark rum can be used in a pinch, but we usually don’t use it because cola makes a better tea-like color than dark liquor.
- White tequila (Blanco Tequila)- clear liquor also called silver tequila, is an unaged spirit made from agave.
- Dry gin is also a clear liquor with high alcohol content. Often flavored with Juniper berries.
- Triple sec – orange flavored liqueur with a sweet taste
- Coca-Cola (for the color of iced tea)
- *ice cubes
Kitchen Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Cocktail glass or highball glass. Collins glass (tall glass similar to a highball) works, too.
How To Make Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
- Add the ice, vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec to the shaker.
- Add more ice to the serving glass.
- Close the shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain over the ice in the serving glass.
- Pour in the Coke. The mixture will dilute and give the tea-like color.
- Garnish with a lemon slice or wheel, or lime wedges, and serve (best with a straw).
Storage
This infamous drink is best consumed right away.
Substitutions & Variations
- You can substitute triple sec with Grand Marnier or a blend of sour mix and orange juice.
- You can add lemon juice or sweet and sour mix to the cocktail.
- Long Beach iced tea – substitute cola for cranberry juice.
- Hawaiian iced tea- swap cola with pineapple juice for a tropical twist.
- Texas Tea Cocktail version is made with whiskey or bourbon.
- Spiced LIIT – use ginger ale instead of adding cola.
- Aside from a lemon wedge, fresh mint leaves, or a maraschino cherry look good as garnish, too.
Expert Tips To Make The Best Long Island Iced Tea
- I recommend using high-end spirits, premium gin, and triple sec are the most important since those flavors will be the most prominent in this drink.
- More cola can be added to achieve the desired flavor.
- If you don’t have a shaker, simply add all the ingredients except cola in a highball glass filled with fresh ice, and stir gently. Pour cola when ready to serve.
- To tone down the alcohol taste, you can mix in some fresh lemon juice
- The sweetness of the drink can be adjusted with simple syrup, maple syrup, or fresh citrus juices.
- Pace yourself with this alcoholic drink, even if you’re trying to make the most out of a happy hour. It may look like tea, but it hits strong!
Popular Questions
What 7 Liquors Are In A Long Island Iced Tea Recipe?
A Long Island Iced Tea typically includes 5 liquors, not 7, and they are vodka, white rum, white tequila, dry gin, and triple sec, along with a splash of cola and lemon juice for flavor.
How Many Shots Of Alcohol Are In A Long Island Iced Tea?
A Long Island Iced Tea contains about 5 shots of alcohol, as it mixes equal parts of five different liquors.
Is Liit The Strongest Cocktail?
A Long Island Iced Tea is one of the strongest cocktails because it mixes multiple liquors, making it pack a powerful punch despite looking like iced tea.
If you love this Long Island iced tea recipe, you’re going to love these other cocktail recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
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Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1 ounce white tequila
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce cola for color
*ice
Instructions
- Add the ice, vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec to the shaker.
- Add more ice to the serving glass.
- Close the shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain over the ice in the serving glass.
- Pour in the Coke. The mixture will dilute and give the tea-like color.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge or wheel and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Created by Gina Kleinworth
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