Long Island Iced Tea Recipe

Before you start

A Long Island iced tea contains no tea. It is vodka, gin, white rum, blanco tequila and orange liqueur in equal small pours, sharpened with lemon and sweetened lightly, then topped with just enough cola to give it the amber color of iced tea. Made carefully, it tastes like a tart, citrusy cola drink; made carelessly, it tastes like a harsh mix of whatever was left in the bottles.

Balance depends on three things: fresh lemon juice rather than sour mix, measured pours so no spirit dominates, and only a splash of cola so the citrus stays in front. It is a strong drink despite its easy taste, with five spirits adding up to well over one standard drink, so keep the pours to the 15 ml each specified here.

Ingredients

• 15 ml (½ oz) vodka
• 15 ml (½ oz) London dry gin
• 15 ml (½ oz) white rum
• 15 ml (½ oz) blanco tequila
• 15 ml (½ oz) orange liqueur — a 40% triple sec such as Cointreau
• 25 ml (¾ oz plus 1 tsp) fresh lemon juice
• 15 ml (½ oz) simple syrup (1:1)
• 30 to 45 ml (1 to 1½ oz) cola — chilled
• 2 cups (about 300 g) ice cubes — for shaking and serving
• 1 lemon wedge — garnish

Method

1. Fill the Collins glass with fresh ice and set it aside.
2. Measure the vodka, gin, rum, tequila, orange liqueur, lemon juice and syrup into the shaker. Use a jigger for every pour; a small overpour of five spirits adds up quickly.
3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake briefly, 6 to 8 seconds, just to chill and combine. A long shake is not needed because the drink is served over ice.
4. Strain into the ice-filled glass, leaving the broken shaking ice behind.
5. Top with the cola, pouring gently. Add only enough to turn the drink a tea-like amber; too much cola buries the lemon.
6. Give one lift with a bar spoon or straw, garnish with the lemon wedge and serve.

Tips for success

• Use fresh lemon juice. Bottled sour mix is the main reason this drink tastes chemical and overly sweet.
• Pick mid-range spirits you would drink on their own. A cheap, harsh tequila or gin will stand out even in a small pour.
• Taste before adding cola. The base should be bright and tart; the cola adds sweetness and color, not balance.

Substitutions

Cola

Cranberry juice instead of cola makes a Long Beach iced tea. Soda water keeps the drink drier and paler.

Orange liqueur

A lower-proof triple sec works but is sweeter; cut the simple syrup to 10 ml.

Simple syrup

Agave syrup gives a slightly earthier sweetness that suits the tequila. Use 10 to 12 ml because it is sweeter.

Variations

Long Beach iced tea

Replace the cola with 45 ml cranberry juice.

Lighter version

Use 10 ml of each spirit and add 30 ml soda water with the cola for a longer, less strong drink.

Troubleshooting

It tastes harsh and boozy

Pours were too large or the lemon was skimped. Measure each spirit at 15 ml and make sure the lemon juice is a full 25 ml.

It tastes like flat cola

There is too much cola. Use 30 ml and let the citrus base lead.

It is cloyingly sweet

Reduce the syrup to 10 ml, or check that your orange liqueur is not a very sweet, low-proof style.

Storage

Serve immediately. Squeezed lemon juice is best within a few hours; keep it covered in the refrigerator and use it the same day.

Safety notes

Contains 75 ml of spirits at about 40% ABV, roughly 1.7 U.S. standard drinks, despite tasting mild. It also contains a little caffeine from the cola. Serve only to adults of legal drinking age, offer water alongside, and never drink and drive.