Cocktails are drinks designed to be stronger than beer but easier to drink than hard liquor. Some of them can be non – alcoholic (mocktail) while others can knock you out in just a couple of glasses. Long island iced tea is closer to the latter, as with a massive 22% ABV it is one of the strongest cocktails out there. So how exactly do you make this infamous cocktail? Keep reading and you will soon find out!
History Of Long Island Iced Tea
Long island iced tea is a very old drink with at least half a century of history. Just like a lot of old things, pinpointing their exact origin is a very difficult thing to do with tons of theories.
One of the oldest theories stems back to the 1920s when the US is in the midst of the prohibition era. A lot of people at the time unleashed their imaginations and tried to create their own cocktails. One of those people was said to be a man named Old Man Bishop who was part of the Long Island Community in Kingsport, Tennessee. He mixed tequila, rum, whiskey, maple syrup, and gin to create a cocktail called the Old Man Bishop, which is claimed to be the predecessor of the modern Long Island Iced Tea.
Another popular theory of the origins of Long Island Iced Tea is that it was first created in 1972. The “founder” of this cocktail is said to be Robert “Rosebud” Butt, a bartender at the time at the Oak Beach Inn in Long Island. He claimed that he created the Long Island Iced Tea for a cocktail making competition. There is no solid evidence to back up either of the theories.
Why Long Island Iced Tea Is So Delicious
If you just read the list of ingredients in a Long Island Iced Tea, you would probably imagine something that is pretty repulsive. Yet somehow, it tastes amazing! All of the liquors and other ingredients go amazingly well together to create a one – of – a – kind cocktail.
Best Serving Method
Long island iced tea is usually made with a pitcher when serving a large party. Since it is fairly simple to make, you can quickly put together all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix them together just before the guests arrive. Don’t forget to add ice to the mixture and then strain the drink before mixing!
Required Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups of cola
- ½ cup of Triple Sec
- ½ cup of Vodka
- ½ cup of Rum
- ½ cup of Tequila
- ½ cup of Gin
- ¾ cup of syrup
- ¾ cup of lemon juice
- Lemon slices
- Ice
Steps To Make
- Add the vodka, rum, tequila, gin, Triple Sec, lemon juice, and syrup into a bowl with ice. The ice would allow the mixture to quickly chill.
- Stir the mixture well until all the ingredients are combined properly
- Strain the mixture using a filter or strainer into a pitcher. This is done to remove any impurities and / or particles from the drink.
- Add your cola into the mixture before finishing with a quick stir
- Pour the drink into each glass and add a lemon slice on top for garnish
Are There Any Other Variations Of The Long Island Iced Tea?
Yes! There are actually a few famous variations of the Long Island Iced Tea:
- Long Beach Tea: in this cocktail, the cola in Long Island Iced Tea is substituted for cranberry juice. This creates a fruitier and citrusy cocktail.
- Texas Tea: simply add a ½ cup of bourbon into your Long Island Iced Tea recipe.
- Blue Long Island Iced Tea: this drink is perfect for those looking for a more visually aesthetic cocktail. Instead of Triple Sec, you would be using blue Curacao liqueur to create a very pretty sky blue beverage.
