Long Island Iced Tea

Tart lemon and sweet soda come together in this ultra boozy cocktail. Everyone needs to try this drink at least once.

I love classic cocktails like the Hurricane, the Bahama Mama, and the Amaretto sour.

The Long Island Iced Tea is another classic cocktail you need in your repertoire. 

A classic and slightly dangerous drink, it has been knocking drinkers on their butts for decades, and what better place to get knocked on your butt than in the comfort of your own home? 

Great For

• Bachleor/Bachelorette Parties
• Staycations
• 21st Birthday Parties

History/Origin

The origin of this drink is debatable, but legend has it was invented in the 1970s.  Robert Butt is said to have made the recipe in a contest where you had to use triple sec at the Oak Beach Inn in Long Island, New York.  

However, others claim it dates back to prohibition during the 1930s when Old Man Bishop from Tennessee made the drink to disguise the fact that it contained alcohol. 

Despite not including any tea, it got its name from how closely it resembles a glass of iced tea.

Why I Love This Recipe

• Budget Friendly: With so many liquors happening, you can use cheaper varieties without a big difference in flavor. 
• Fresh Lemon Flavor: Skip the sour mix and use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. 
• Gin Free: I’m not a fan of the herbal flavor of gin, so you won’t find it here.

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

• Gold Tequila: Tequila is alcohol from the agave plant and originates in Mexico. Tequila comes in two colors, silver, and gold. The main difference is their length of aging. Silver tequila is aged for two months at the most, while gold tequila is aged for two months at the least, and sometimes even longer than a year. The aging process gives it its golden color and changes its flavor profile. 
  • • Flavor: Gold tequila is slightly sweeter than other varieties. 
    • Cost: $12-$15
    • Strength: 80 proof or 40% ABV
    • Brands: I like Margaritaville.
    • Great For: Tequila sunrise, and Texas Margaritas 
• Triple Sec: Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur. It originates from France, and is quite similar to Cointreau. I used the brand Arrow. 
  • Flavor:  Triple sec is made by steeping orange peels in a spirit, which gives it its strong orange flavor.
  • Cost: $8-$10
  • Strength: 30 proof of 15% ABV
  • Location: Look for it near the Schnapps. 
  • Uses: Blue Margaritas, Hippie Juice
• White Rum: Rum is a liquor that originates in the Caribbean and is made by distilling sugarcane. Look for white rum that is not aged as long as dark rum. 
  • Flavor: Crisp with notes of citrus and a hint of vanilla.
  • Brand: I like Bacardi.
  • Strength: 80 proof or 40% ABV
  • Cost:$10-$15
  • Uses:Daiquiris, Mojitos, & Piña Colada
• Vodka: Most vodka is made from wheat. I prefer the Smirnoff brand.
  • Flavor: It adds more alcohol than flavor to think drink. 
  • Cost: $12-$15
  • Strength: 80 proof or 40% ABV
  • Uses: Greyhound, Sea Breeze, Colorado Bulldog
• Simple Syrup: Simple syrup is made by simmering equal parts sugar and water until they combine to create a syrup. Simple syrup can be homemade or bought at the store. You can also use different flavors to add a twist to your drink, such as vanilla or orange. 
• Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed juice for the most flavor. 

How To Make a Long Island Iced Tea

1. Fill 2 glasses with ice.
2. Combine tequila, vodka, rum, triple sec, simple syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.
3. Top with Coca-Cola and garnish with mint and lemon. Enjoy responsibly!

Fun Variations

• Add 1 ounce of gin if desired. 
• AMF: Use blue curacao instead of triple sec and Sprite instead of cola.
• Hawaiian Iced Tea: Use Pineapple juice instead of Cola.
• Long Beach Iced Tea: Use cranberry juice instead of Cola.
• Tokyo Iced Tea: Use Midori instead of Triple Sec and Sprite in place of Cola.
• Miami Iced Tea: Replace the tequila with peach schnapps and the coke with sprite. 
• Texas Tea: Add whiskey!

How Strong Is This Drink?

This drink packs a punch. It is 30 proof or 15% ABV, and equal to 2.3 standard drinks.

Tips

1. Get the Most Juice From Your Lemon: Microwave it for 20-30 seconds and then roll it on the counter to get the most juice possible. 
2. Measure Precisely: Ratios are important when using this many ingredients. A typical shot class contains 1.5 ounces. You can also measure using a jigger, a tablespoon, or even a food scale that measures in MLs.  One tablespoon=.5 ounces.
3. Shaken Not Stirred: Do not stir all the ingredients together. It can be tempting to simply pour the alcohol and the cola into one glass and stir, but this will result in a sub-par cocktail. Instead, follow the directions, shake the liquors in your cocktail shaker, and pour the cola over. The shake is essential for dilution and for combining the ingredients effectively. 
4. No Cocktail Shaker?: No problem! Use a mason jar instead.
5. Don’t skip the garnish: Nothing will elevate your status as a bartender like a fun garnish.
6. Make Clear Ice: Use bottled water for crystal clear cubes.

More Classic Cocktails

Blue Hawaiian 

Orgasm

Amaretto Sour

Appletini

Madras Cocktail

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Long Island Iced Tea

Tart lemon and sweet soda come together in this ultra boozy cocktail. Everyone needs to try this drink at least once.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 4 minutes minutes

Total Time: 4 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 Drinks

Calories: 459kcal

Author: Krystle Smith

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 Ounces Margaritaville Gold Tequila
• ▢ 2 Ounces Smirnoff Vodka
• ▢ 2 Ounces Bacardi White Rum
• ▢ 2 Ounces Triple Sec
• ▢ 4 Ounces Simple Syrup
• ▢ 4 Ounces Lemon Juice Freshly Squeezed
• ▢ 2 Ounces Coke Cola
• ▢ Ice
• ▢ Fresh Mint and Lemon Wedges For Garnish

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Instructions

• Fill 2 glasses with ice.
• Using a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, vodka, white rum, triple sec, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
• Pour into glasses and top with Coke Cola.
• Garnish with mint and a lemon slice.

Notes

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

Gold Tequila: Tequila is alcohol from the agave plant and originates in Mexico. Tequila comes in two colors, silver, and gold. The main difference is their length of aging. Silver tequila is aged for two months at the most, while gold tequila is aged for two months at the least, and sometimes even longer than a year. The aging process gives it its golden color and changes its flavor profile. 

• • • Flavor: Gold tequila is slightly sweeter than other varieties. 
    • Cost: $12-$15
    • Strength: 80 proof or 40% ABV
    • Brands: I like Margaritaville.
• Triple Sec: Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur. It originates from France, and is quite similar to Cointreau. I used the brand Arrow. 
  • Flavor:  Triple sec is made by steeping orange peels in a spirit, which gives it its strong orange flavor.
  • Cost: $8-$10
  • Strength: 30 proof of 15% ABV
  • Location: Look for it near the Schnapps. 
• White Rum: Rum is a liquor that originates in the Caribbean and is made by distilling sugarcane. Look for white rum that is not aged as long as dark rum. 
  • Flavor: Crisp with notes of citrus and a hint of vanilla.
  • Brand: I like Bacardi.
  • Strength: 80 proof or 40% ABV
  • Cost:$10-$15
• Vodka: Most vodka is made from wheat. I prefer the Smirnoff brand.
  • Flavor: It adds more alcohol than flavor to think drink. 
  • Cost: $12-$15
  • Strength: 80 proof or 40% ABV
• Simple Syrup: Simple syrup is made by simmering equal parts sugar and water until they combine to create a syrup. Simple syrup can be homemade or bought at the store. You can also use different flavors to add a twist to your drink, such as vanilla or orange. 
• Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed juice for the most flavor. 

Tips

1. Get the Most Juice From Your Lemon: Microwave it for 20-30 seconds and then roll it on the counter to get the most juice possible. 
2. Measure Precisely: Ratios are important when using this many ingredients. A typical shot class contains 1.5 ounces. You can also measure using a jigger, a tablespoon, or even a food scale that measures in MLs.  One tablespoon=.5 ounces.
3. Shaken Not Stirred: Do not stir all the ingredients together. It can be tempting to simply pour the alcohol and the cola into one glass and stir, but this will result in a sub-par cocktail. Instead, follow the directions, shake the liquors in your cocktail shaker, and pour the cola over. The shake is essential for dilution and for combining the ingredients effectively. 
4. No Cocktail Shaker?: No problem! Use a mason jar instead.
5. Don't skip the garnish: Nothing will elevate your status as a bartender like a fun garnish.
6. Make Clear Ice: Use bottled water for crystal clear cubes.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 55g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 2mg

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