The Long Island Iced Tea is the great magic trick of the cocktail world. It looks and tastes like an innocent glass of iced tea, and there is not a drop of tea in it. What is actually in there is five spirits, which is why it has the reputation it does. I have made plenty of these over the years, and the real skill is balance, get the citrus and the cola right and it drinks far more smoothly than something this strong has any business doing.
This is the classic Long Island, all five spirits, fresh lemon and just enough cola for that tea colour. It takes about five minutes and no shaker. My notes are underneath, along with the quick way to pour one.
What Is a Long Island Iced Tea?
A Long Island Iced Tea is a tall, strong cocktail built from vodka, gin, tequila, white rum and orange liqueur, sharpened with lemon and topped with a splash of cola. The cola is what gives it that deep amber, iced-tea colour and the name, there is no actual tea involved.
It is generally credited to a bartender named Robert Butt, who claims to have invented it in the 1970s in Long Island, New York, during a cocktail competition. Whatever its exact origins, it became the definitive order for anyone wanting maximum drink for their money, and it has been a staple of bars and holidays ever since.
Ingredients
This makes one Long Island Iced Tea. The spirit measures are small on purpose, five of them add up fast, so resist the urge to be generous.
A Few Notes on the Ingredients
The five spirits are the whole point, vodka, gin, tequila, white rum and orange liqueur. You do not need premium bottles here, they are combined in small measures with citrus and cola, so the individual character of each gets blended into something greater than its parts. Standard bottles are exactly right.
Fresh lemon juice is what keeps it drinkable. A lot of bars use a bottled sour mix, but fresh lemon gives a cleaner, brighter, less artificial finish and it is worth the squeeze. This is the difference between a good Long Island and a sickly one.
Simple syrup balances the citrus. Since the drink is mostly spirit and lemon, a little sweetness rounds it off and stops it tasting harsh.
Cola is for the top only. It is there to colour the drink and add a little sweetness and fizz, not to fill the glass. Just a splash over the top, so resist drowning it, or you lose the balance.
Variations Worth Trying
- Long Beach Iced Tea: swap the cola for cranberry juice for a fruitier, pink version.
- Tokyo Iced Tea: replace the cola with a splash of Midori melon liqueur and lemonade for a bright green twist.
- Fresh and lighter: go heavier on the lemon and lighter on the syrup if you like it sharper and less sweet.
- Big batch: multiply the recipe into a jug for a party, but label it clearly, people always underestimate this one.
Skip the Mixing
If you like a Long Island but not the idea of buying five different spirits to make one drink, this is exactly why I started Boozy. We make proper party cocktails, canned, chilled and ready to pour. If you would rather skip the mixing entirely, our ready-to-drink Long Island Iced Tea gives you that same smooth, citrus-and-cola serve at a proper 9.8% ABV, straight from the can. It sits alongside the rest of our cocktail cans, from the Margarita to the Espresso Martini, all bold, bright and made for a crowd.
Long Island Iced Tea FAQs
Does a Long Island Iced Tea have tea in it?
No. There is no tea in it at all. The name comes from the colour, once you add the splash of cola, it looks just like a glass of iced tea, despite being made entirely from spirits and citrus.
What is in a Long Island Iced Tea?
The classic build is vodka, gin, tequila, white rum and orange liqueur, with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and a top of cola. Five spirits in small measures, balanced with citrus and a little sweetness.
How strong is a Long Island Iced Tea?
Strong. Because it combines five spirits with only a splash of mixer, it packs far more alcohol than a typical highball, even though it drinks smoothly. Our ready-to-drink Long Island is 9.8% ABV, so it is one to enjoy slowly.
Can you make a Long Island Iced Tea without sour mix?
Yes, and it is better for it. Use fresh lemon juice and simple syrup in place of bottled sour mix for a cleaner, brighter, more balanced drink that does not taste artificial.
Why is it called a Long Island Iced Tea?
It is named after Long Island in New York, where a bartender called Robert Butt is widely credited with creating it in the 1970s. The iced tea part refers purely to its colour once the cola goes in.
New to Boozy? Read more about us, browse our ready-to-drink cocktail range, or get in touch if you have any questions.
