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Long Island Iced Tea

Famously known as “A Bad Decision in a Glass,” the Long Island Iced Tea is actually a refreshing cocktail that lends itself well to customization and can be one of the more sophisticated drinks in your cocktail recipe arsenal; when done the right way!

Origins of the Long Island Iced Tea

One popular story runs that Charles Bishop, a moonshiner in Tennessee, invented this drink during Prohibition, deliberately making it look like tea in order to fool The Man. According to this story, Bishop used rum, vodka, gin, whiskey, tequila, and maple syrup. His son then changed things a bit with the substitution of triple sec for whiskey and cola for maple syrup.

Another story credits Bob Butt of Long Island, who created a drink almost identical to what we know today at the Oak Beach Inn in the 1970s. It’s also possible that both these stories are true, as plenty of people have had ideas about refreshing alcoholic drinks that look like a tall glass of iced tea.

Flavor and Punch

Whatever the origin of this drink, it’s popular precisely because it’s so easy to drink. It makes sense that it would be a Prohibition-era drink given that people needed a way to drink without looking like they were drinking, and this drink certainly does look for all the world like iced tea. It has a reputation for getting people smashed quickly because it’s so easy to drink. When done right, the flavor is fantastic, and it doesn’t taste nearly as strong as it is.

That said, it’s common to overpour, and that’s always a mistake. Overpouring may give you more alcohol, but it doesn’t give you the same taste. The key is flavor! The alcohols have to be in the right proportion to one another and to the other ingredients or it just won’t be right. And even a standard recipe for this “tea” is still as strong as a couple of beers and will go down a lot faster, so there’s no need to go overpouring!

How To Make It

There are an infinite number of takes on this recipe, but we’ve included a standard classic recipe.

Long Island Iced Tea

There are an infinite number of takes on this recipe, but we've included a standard classic drink recipe.
Keyword Long Island Iced Tea
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 1

Ingredients

  • 3/4 Ounce Vodka
  • 3/4 Ounce Gin
  • 3/4 Ounce White Rum
  • 3/4 Ounce Blanco Tequila
  • 3/4 Ounce Triple Sec
  • 3/4 Ounce Sour Mix
  • Cola to taste
  • Ice
  • 1 Lemon or Lime for garnish

Instructions

  • If you shake it, just pour everything but the cola in a cocktail shaker and go to town, pouring it over fresh ice and adding a slice of lemon and the cola at the end. If you prefer to stir, use a Collins glass filled with ice and add each ingredient one by one, except the cola. Stir it well, garnish, and then add the cola. If you shake it, you'll find it has a mellower flavor.
    You can make this your own by skipping the sour mix and using fresh-squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup instead. You can also replace the cola with cranberry juice; replace the triple sec with Blue curaçao and the cola with lemon-lime soda; or add whiskey to it. Don't be afraid to experiment!

 

Please drink responsibly, be fully accountable with your alcohol consumption, and show others respect.

Written by My Bartender

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