Long Island Iced Tea

Long Island Iced Tea

The Long Island Iced Tea is a classic cocktail that is known for its strong and refreshing taste. It is a combination of various spirits, including gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, and vodka, mixed with sweet and sour mix and a splash of cola. The drink is typically garnished with a slice of lemon and served in a tall glass over ice.

The origins of the Long Island Iced Tea are somewhat shrouded in mystery, with multiple stories circulating about its creation. One version of the story is that it was invented during the prohibition era in the United States by a bartender named Robert “Rosebud” Butt. He created the drink as a way to enter a cocktail competition in 1972, and it ended up winning the competition. According to Butt, the drink was meant to resemble iced tea, which was a popular non-alcoholic drink at the time, in order to help conceal the fact that it contained alcohol.

Another story is that it was created in the 1920s by a bootlegger in Long Island, New York, who needed to disguise the smell of his illegal alcohol. The drink quickly gained popularity among patrons at the bar and eventually spread to other bars and restaurants.

Regardless of its origin, the Long Island Iced Tea has become a staple cocktail at bars and restaurants all over the world. The recipe for the drink is relatively simple, with the key ingredients being equal parts of gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, and vodka, mixed with sweet and sour mix and a splash of cola. The drink is typically garnished with a slice of lemon and served in a tall glass over ice.

Directions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice
2. Add 15ml/.5oz of Tequila
3. Add 15ml/.5oz of Vodka
4. Add 15ml/.5oz of Rum
5. Add 15ml/.5oz of Gin
6. Add 15ml/.5oz Cointreau
7. Add 30ml/1oz of Lemon Juice
8. Add 15ml/.5oz of Simple Syrup
9. Top off with Cola
10. Stir gently and Garnish with a lemon twist.

In recent years, variations of the Long Island Iced Tea have become popular. One popular variation is the Long Beach Iced Tea, which replaces the cola with cranberry juice. Another is the Alabama Slammer, which replaces the cola with Southern Comfort.

The Long Island Iced Tea is a classic cocktail that is known for its strong and refreshing taste. The drink’s high alcohol content and delicious combination of flavors make it a popular choice among cocktail enthusiasts, and its versatility allows for personal modifications to suit individual preferences.