How To Make A Classic Long Island Iced Tea At Home

The Long Island Iced Tea isn’t trying to be delicate. It walks in loud with five kinds of liquor and doesn’t blink. You drink this when you’re not in the mood to pick just one thing… when you want it all in the same glass and you want it now.

The name’s a lie by the way. There’s no actual tea in sight. What you get instead is a full-on cocktail mashup that somehow tastes smoother than it should: vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec…

Sweet, citrusy and a little wild… like a summer night that gets interesting fast.

This isn’t your slow sip kind of drink. It’s big energy, poured over ice and topped with cola like it’s trying to keep things casual. But make no mistake… it came to party.

What Is a Long Island Iced Tea and Where Did It Come From

The Long Island Iced Tea looks innocent but don’t let that fool you. It’s got vodka, gin, rum, tequila and triple sec all in one glass… plus lemon simple syrup and a splash of cola to pull it all together. No tea anywhere just a name that tricks you into thinking it’s chill.

As for where it came from most stories point to the 1970s in… you guessed it, Long Island, New York. A bartender threw together a bunch of leftover spirits, balanced it with citrus and cola and boom… somehow it worked! It wasn’t fancy or classic just bold and surprisingly smooth.

That’s what makes it so popular. It shouldn’t make sense but it totally does. It’s equal parts chaos and charm and it’s still one of the most ordered cocktails for a reason. It doesn’t mess around and when it’s made right it goes down way easier than it should.

Tips to Make It at Home

The Long Island Iced Tea might sound like a handful but it’s actually super easy to make once you know the flow. Here’s how to get it right without turning your kitchen into a mess.

• Use fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice will make the whole thing taste off. Squeeze it fresh if you can. It makes a big difference.
• Stick to equal parts. Half an ounce of each spirit keeps it balanced. Don’t eyeball it unless you’re cool with guessing your way into a blackout.
• Shake it cold. You want it chilled before it hits the glass. A quick shake with ice helps everything blend and cuts the edge off all that liquor.
• Top with cola last. Pour your cola gently after shaking the spirits and citrus. It gives that tea-like color and smooths out the drink without flattening the fizz.
• Pick the right glass. A tall glass with fresh ice keeps it cool and gives the drink some space to breathe. This isn’t a short glass moment. Let it stretch out.

How to Make the Perfect Long Island Iced Tea

The Long Island Iced Tea is a sweet and slightly sour cocktail featuring a medley of spirits, a splash of cola, and a hint of lemon. It’s served over ice and garnished with a lemon wedge, making it visually appealing as well as delicious.

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz Vodka
• 1/2 oz Gin
• 1/2 oz White Rum
• 1/2 oz Tequila
• 1/2 oz Triple sec
• 1 oz Lemon juice
• 1 oz Simple syrup
• Cola to top
• Lemon wedge for garnish
• Ice

Zero-proof version: Mix citrus juice with cola and use a non-alcoholic spirit blend if you want to keep the taste but skip the booze. You still get the same energy just without the aftereffects.

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with ice.
5. Top with cola to fill the glass.
6. Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve immediately.

Prep Times

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes

Nutrition Information

• Servings: 1 cocktail
• Calories: 402 kcal
• Fat: 1g
• Protein: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 71g

Long Island Iced Tea Variations

Once you’ve got the classic down you can switch it up without messing with the vibe too much. These spins keep the Long Island spirit but let you play with flavor depending on what you’re into.

Texas Tea: Just add a splash of bourbon. It leans a little sweeter and brings some extra warmth to the mix.

Blue Long Island: Swap the triple sec for blue curaçao and skip the cola. Top it with lemon lime soda instead for a bold color and a citrusy twist.

Peach Long Island: Use peach schnapps instead of triple sec. It softens the bite and gives it a fruity roundness that still hits hard.

Tokyo Tea: Green melon liqueur takes the place of triple sec and it gets topped with lemon lime soda. It’s bright sweet and looks like it belongs under neon lights.

Did you enjoy the Long Island Iced Tea and need inspiration for some other Vodka based cocktails? Why not try a Moscow Mule, a Vanilla Berry Bliss or a Pornstar Martini?

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Long Island Iced Tea

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Shake up your night with a Long Island Iced Tea! This boozy cocktail is a perfect mix of spirits, cola, and lemon for your next party or casual gathering.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 15 ml Vodka
• 15 ml Gin
• 15 ml White Rum
• 15 ml Tequila
• 15 ml Triple sec
• 30 ml Lemon juice
• 30 ml Simple syrup
• Cola to top
• Lemon wedge for garnish
• Ice

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with ice.
5. Top with cola to fill the glass.
6. Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve immediately.

Notes

For a non-alcoholic version: Mix citrus juice with cola and use a non-alcoholic spirit blend if you want to keep the taste but skip the booze. You still get the same energy just without the after effects!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 402Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 22mgCarbohydrates: 71gFiber: 3gSugar: 62gProtein: 1g

This nutrition information was automatically calculated by Nutritionix, but may not be 100% accurate.