Long Island Iced Tea

Long Island Iced Tea, despite its misleading name, offers a flavorful journey that diverges from conventional tea beverages. This potent concoction is famous for combining vodka, tequila, rum, gin, and cola all in one glass.

The traditional recipe, balancing equal parts of various spirits, lays the foundation for a strong alcohol content and flavor profile. However, the beauty of the Long Island Iced Tea lies in its adaptability. Bartenders and enthusiasts alike craft variations, tweaking ratios to cater to diverse palates, while some opt to elevate it with a splash of lemon juice or triple sec for an added punch.

With its blend of potent spirits and cola, this cocktail is famously one of the strongest, despite its sweet taste. Whether savored under the sun on a scorching summer day or embraced amidst the fervor of a lively gathering, the Long Island Iced Tea remains an enduring favorite.

History

Long Island Iced Tea is a popular cocktail that has been enjoyed around the world since the 1980s. The origin of this cocktail is a topic of debate, but many people credit its invention to Robert “Rosebud” Butt, a bartender who claims to have created it as his entry in a contest to create an original cocktail featuring triple sec while working at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, New York in 1972.

However, some sources claim that the Long Island Iced Tea was actually invented during Prohibition in the 1920s by a man named Charles Bishop, who named it after himself. During Prohibition, cocktails were popular because mixers were used to cover up the smell of alcohol in bars. Regardless of its true origin, the Long Island Iced Tea has become a staple in bars and restaurants around the world. 

How to Make It

Variations

The Long Island Iced Tea is a classic cocktail that has been around for decades. Over the years, many variations of this drink have been created. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Long Beach Iced Tea

This variation replaces the triple sec with raspberry liqueur. It gives the drink a fruity and sweet flavor.

Texas Tea

This variation is similar to Long Island Iced Tea, but it uses bourbon instead of gin. It has a smokier and richer flavor than the original.

Moscow Mule Iced Tea

This variation adds ginger beer to the mix, giving the drink a spicy kick. It is perfect for those who like their drinks with a little bit of heat.

Tennessee Iced Tea

This variation uses Jack Daniel’s instead of vodka. It has a slightly sweeter taste than the original, and it is perfect for whiskey lovers.

Midori Iced Tea

This variation adds Midori, a melon-flavored liqueur, to the mix. It gives the drink a bright green color and a sweet, fruity taste.

Hawaiian Iced Tea

This variation adds pineapple juice to the mix, giving the drink a tropical twist. It is perfect for those who want a taste of the islands.

Summer Iced Tea

This variation adds lemonade to the mix, giving the drink a bright and refreshing taste. It is perfect for hot summer days.

New England Iced Tea

This variation replaces the cola with cranberry juice. It gives the drink a tart and fruity flavor.

Grateful Dead Iced Tea

This variation adds equal parts of raspberry liqueur, blue curaçao, and sour mix to the mix, giving the drink a bright purple color and a sweet, fruity taste.