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Home » 30 Minutes or Less » Long Island Iced Tea Recipe

Long Island Iced Tea Recipe

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon Jessica Randhawa
March 27, 2020
4.77 from 21 votes


Last Updated May 22, 2020 | 1 Comment

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2.9K shares
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Packing a serious punch, this classic Long Island Iced Tea Recipe is made with five types of alcohol including tequila, rum, vodka, gin, and triple sec. Surprisingly delicious, serve this simple cocktail in a highball glass for one, or mix together a pitcher and make it a party!

Three ice-cold Long Island Iced Tea on a large metal serving tray.

What is a Long Island Iced Tea?

The infamous Long Island iced tea is an alcoholic mixed drink made with equal parts gin, tequila, vodka, rum, and triple sec (or Cointreau), fresh lemon juice (or sour mix) and a splash of cola. Despite its name, there is no actual iced tea in a Long Island iced tea. Instead, it acquired its name thanks to its color, which, after mixing, resembles that of iced tea- especially when served in a highball glass and garnished with lemon.

In most cases, and thanks to its relatively small mixer amount, Long Island iced teas have a much higher concentration of alcohol when compared to other mixed drinks. You’re welcome (though, please, do drink responsibly).

Anyway, the origin of this wild drink is claimed to be the genius of a Robert “Rosebud” Butt. Apparently he invented and then entered his Long Island iced tea recipe into a contest for new mixed drinks using triple sec in 1972 while on Long Island, New York.  

All the ingredients needed to make a Long Island Iced Tea Recipe on a round metal serving tray.

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? Let’s have some fun.

What’s in a Long Island Iced Tea?

Your entire liquor cabinet.

Ok, just kidding. Maybe not the entire thing. Just five totally different white distilled spirits (vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec), a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and a splash of cola. 

In other words, 

  • 1/2 ounce Vodka
  • 1/2 ounce White Rum
  • 1/2 ounce Gin
  • 1/2 ounce Tequila Blanco
  • 1/2 ounce Orange Liqueur (Triple Sec, Cointreau, etc.)
  • 1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Ice
  • Cola, just a splash

There are, of course, several variations to this recipe. The most common version replaces the lemon juice with a sour mix.

How to Make a Long Island Iced Tea?

Don’t let its long list of ingredients fool you – this is one seriously easy cocktail to mix together. For best results, I highly recommend measuring with a bar jigger and shaking yours up in a cocktail shaker.

  1. Gather the ingredients.
  2. Add all ingredients (except for the cola and a lemon wedge) to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  3. Shake until chilled, approximately 5-10 seconds.
  4. Pour contents into a highball glass filled with ice.
  5. Top with a splash with cola, stir and garnish with lemon.

If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, simply add all the ingredients (except for the cola and a lemon wedge) to a highball glass filled with ice. Stir well. Top off with cola and garnish with lemon.

Probably the easiest cocktail you’ll ever make – except for maybe my margarita recipe.

Three ice-cold Long Island Iced Tea on a large metal serving tray.

Popular Variations

There are countless variations of the original  Long Island iced tea recipe, here are a few of my favorites.

  • Texas Tea – Just add bourbon. Yes, add all five of the white liquors, plus bourbon.
  • Long Beach Iced Tea – Here, the cola is replaced with cranberry juice, giving it a distinct, reddish color.
  • Electric Iced Tea – Blue curacao replaces the triple sec and lemon-lime soda (for example, Sprite) replaces the dark-colored cola. The end result is a brilliant blue-colored cocktail.
  • Hawaiian Iced Tea – Swap the cola for pineapple juice.
  • Tokyo Iced Tea – In this version, the cola is swapped out for Midori, a sweet, bright, and green-colored liquor made in Japan.

More Cocktail Recipes,

Negroni Recipe; How to Make a Negroni Cocktail

How to Make a Gin and Tonic

Mojito Recipe; How to Make a Mojito

Best Sangria Recipe

If you try making this Long Island Iced Tea Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.

Three Long Island Iced Teas garnished with fresh lemon.

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Three ice-cold Long Island Iced Tea on a large metal serving tray.

Long Island Iced Tea Recipe

4.77 from 21 votes
Chef: Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa
Packing a serious punch, this classic Long Island Iced Tea Recipe is made with five types of alcohol including tequila, rum, vodka, gin, and Cointreau. Surprisingly delicious, serve this simple cocktail in a highball glass for one, or mix together a pitcher and make it a party!
Please drink responsibly.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 drink
Calories 178 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ fluid ounce Vodka
  • ½ fluid ounce Tequila Blanco - (silver, blanco, or white)
  • ½ fluid ounce Gin
  • ½ fluid ounce White Rum
  • ½ fluid ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec Liqueur
  • ½ fluid ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Cola
  • Lemon wedge - to serve
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • Fill an ice shaker with ice. Add everything except for the cola and lemon wedge. Shake until chilled, approximately 5-10 seconds.
  • Pour contents into a highball glass filled with ice and top with a splash of cola.
  • Give it a quick stir, garnish with a wedge of lemon, and enjoy!

Jessica's Notes

Make it a pitcher!
  • 1/2 ounce is equal to 1 tabespoon
  • 6 ounces is equal to 3/4 cup
Servings - 12 cocktails
Add the follow amounts to a large pitcher and refrigerate until chilled. Just before serving, fill with ice and top with cola and lemon wedges.
  • 6 ounces Vodka
  • 6 ounces Rum
  • 6 ounces Tequila 
  • 6 ounces Gin
  • 6 ounces Triple Sec
  • 6 ounces Lemon Juice
  • 2 cups Cola, plus for to taste
  • Lemon wedges, for serving
  • Ice
 

Nutritional Information

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 5mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword Long Island Iced Tea, Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

About Jessica

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

2.9K shares
Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

About Jessica Randhawa

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Umi Tea Sets says

    October 5, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    Hey, Jessica

    I’m a huge fan of your blog, I’ve really been enjoying your posts. In fact, I am a tea lover, and i have many teawares and teas collections.

    I am the owner of Umi Tea Sets LTD. I am Chinese, I saw your blog has wrote a article about bubble tea..I really enjoy them. I hope we can talk more about tea and learn more about it.

    Thanks for your time and consideration! I can’t wait to hear back from you.

    Cheers,
    Umi Tea Sets

    Reply

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Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

I’m Jessica! Aka mom, wife, chef, and travel-obsessed photographer. Welcome to The Forked Spoon. Here you can browse hundreds of incredible family-friendly recipes covering dozens of diets, courses, and cuisines. Learn more about me.

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