The Long Island Ice Tea is a classic cocktail that’s served in every type of bar, from the most sophisticated establishment to the most brown-bottle dive around the corner from you. A thousand variations range from delicious to not so delicious (substituting Blue Curacao). Now, despite the name, you might be shocked to know how little Tea is contained in this bar staple: none.
Long Island Origin
The origin of the Long Island Ice Tea is ambiguous at best. Thought to be invented by Robert “Rosebud” Butt at the Oak Beach Inn in Long Island in 1972, the Long Island Ice Tea also resembles some prohibition cocktails it was likely inspired by.
Everything but the Kitchen Sink
Taking the concept of split-based cocktails to their logical conclusion, the basic template of the Long Island is to take the four major spirits found in every bar and mix them in one drink: Gin, Vodka, Rum, and Tequila. The last alcohol used in the classic Long Island Ice Tea is its most divisive ingredient. Made from the dried peels of Oranges, Triple Sec is one of the most widely used members of the Curaçao family of liqueurs.
Seldom consumed on its own, Triple Sec is mostly used as a modifier, providing depth to a drink that would be lacking something with only a base spirit. Lemon Juice and Simple syrup round out its ingredient list with a classic sugar and acid combination. Its final ingredient is possibly its weirdest; a Cola top-up finishes this drink off by creating it its golden tea color, giving it a mid-20th-century spin.
Get the Glassware Right
For glassware, there are many options. People will put a Long Island Ice Tea in everything from a Low glass to a Poco Grande glass. We think it looks the cleanest in a good old Tom Collins Glass, garnished with a lemon slice or twist.
Recipe
- 1/2 ounce of Vodka
- 1/2 ounce of Gin
- 1/2 ounce of Rum (preferably white)
- 1/2 ounce of Tequila (Blanco or Reposado)
- 1/2 Triple Sec (we suggest Cointreau)
- 1 ounce of Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 ounce of Simple Syrup
Instructions
- Shaken ingredients in a Boston tin for 30 seconds
- Strain over Ice
- Top with Cola
Variety of Variations:
- Sans Triple Sec
This is a more contemporary, streamlined version of the Long Island Ice Tea. Choosing to skip the Triple Sec is likely the choice that your trendy, mustached, and tattooed bartender is serving up on patios all afternoon after his yoga class. It’s our preferred version of the cocktail because it cuts out some of the sweetness and lets us concentrate on the already huge flavor from split-base spirits. Plus, you can use this opportunity to up the content of your favorite spirits in its place.
Adios MF
Blue Curaçao has ruined the idea of cocktails for every person who has sheepishly ordered a pornstar or a blue whale on the first night of being legal drinking age. If you’ve had one and ordered a second, I can likely guess that cocktails were never for you.
The AMF is like a Long Island Ice Tea but with Blue Curaçao instead of Triple Sec, Sprite instead of Coke and Sweet and Sour Mix instead of simple and lemon juice. If a bartender has made this drink for you, the bar you’re in probably has a sand floor, and the bartender is wearing a Hawaiian shirt – and not to be ironic. He has already hit on you several times, and his velvety voice reminds you of Jimmy Buffett. No shade is required in this bar; this article has already provided it.
Our recommendation for this one is that you skip the Sweet and Sour mix, especially if its the fake crystal stuff, and use fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
Recipe
- 1/2 ounce Gin
- 1/2 ounce Vodka
- 1/2 ounce Rum
- 1/2 Ounce Tequila
- 1/2 ounce Blue Curaçao
- 2 ounces of Sweet and Sour Mix
Intructions
- Shake ingredients on ice for 30 seconds
- Strain over Ice
Tokyo Tea
Despite having little to do with Tokyo, this riff on the Long Island Ice Tea isn’t as offensive as the last. It substitutes Soda for the Coke and Tequila for Melon Liqueur. Midori is the most common brand of Melon liqueur and its name means green in Japanese. This is apt, as many of its drinkers’ turn this color the day after drinking a few of these.
We suggest skipping the Triple Sec on this one and keeping the Tequila.
Recipe
- 1/2 ounce Gin
- 1/2 ounce Vodka
- 1/2 ounce Rum
- 1/2 Ounce of Midori (Melon Liqueur)
- 1/2 Ounce of Tequila
Instructions
- Shake in Boston tin for 30 seconds
- Strain over Ice
