Long Island Iced Tea
intro
A bold, refreshing highball cocktail blending five clear spirits with citrus and cola, with a smooth, iced tea-like profile despite containing no actual tea.
Ingredients
Steps
Prep serving glasses
Take four 16-oz (475ml) highball glasses, add ½ cup of ice cubes to each, and place them in the freezer for 2 minutes to chill while you prepare the cocktail base. This quick chill prevents fast ice dilution when serving.
Measure core spirits
Add 60ml (4 tbsp) vodka, 60ml (4 tbsp) white rum, 60ml (4 tbsp) silver tequila, 60ml (4 tbsp) London dry gin, and 60ml (4 tbsp) triple sec to a large 750ml cocktail shaker. Use a bar jigger for precise measurements to avoid an overly strong, unbalanced drink.
Add citrus and sweetener
Pour 80ml (1/3 cup) freshly squeezed, strained lemon juice (seeds and pulp removed) and 60ml (4 tbsp) plain simple syrup into the shaker with the spirits. Add the remaining 2 cups of ice cubes to the shaker, then press the shaker lid on tightly to create a leakproof seal.
Shake cocktail base
Hold the shaker firmly with both hands (one hand on the lid, one on the base) and shake vigorously for 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker feels frosty and cold to the touch. Do not shake longer than 20 seconds, as over-shaking will over-dilute the drink.
Strain into glasses
Remove the pre-chilled highball glasses from the freezer. Fit a Hawthorne strainer over the shaker opening, and pour equal amounts of the shaken spirit mixture into each glass, filling each glass roughly halfway to leave room for cola.
Add cola and garnish
Slowly pour 60ml (1/4 cup) of chilled cola over the back of a bar spoon into each glass to create a gentle layered effect, then give each drink 2-3 slow rotations with a long stir stick to lightly combine. Garnish each glass with a fresh lemon wedge perched on the rim to serve.
Tips
2.Skip bottled commercial sour mix—freshly squeezed, strained lemon juice creates a brighter, more balanced citrus note that cuts through the strong spirit blend.
3.Only stir 2-3 times after adding cola to preserve the soda’s carbonation; over-stirring will flatten the drink and remove its signature light, bubbly texture.
OMG this is SO good! I made a big batch for our backyard BBQ last weekend and every single guest was asking for the recipe. Total game changer for summer happy hours, it literally takes 5 minutes to throw together so I didn’t miss a minute of hanging out. Tastes exactly like the one I order at my favorite beach bar!
Perfect easy cocktail for when my friends come over for game night. I was overcomplicating fancy craft cocktails that take forever to make, but this is cheap, quick, and everyone raves about it. Only note is I went a little heavy on the cola my first try and it was too sweet, so stick to the measurements!
Made this for my beach day picnic with the girls yesterday and it was chef’s kiss. So refreshing on a hot day, didn’t have to haul a bunch of fancy ingredients to the shore. Will 100% be making this all summer long.
I hosted our neighborhood potluck last week and set up a little make-your-own Long Island iced tea station using this recipe as the guide. It was the most popular spot at the whole party! Even my neighbor who swears he ‘hates sweet cocktails’ went back for a second glass.
Solid recipe, tastes exactly like the classic. I made this after a long day on the trail with my hiking group last weekend, and it was the perfect way to unwind. Super easy to make even with the basic mini bar I keep at my cabin.
Our book club switched from wine to cocktails for our last meetup and I used this recipe. Let’s just say we got through half the batch before we even started discussing the book 😂. So smooth, you can barely taste how strong it is—definitely don’t drink these too fast!
Made these for our tailgate before the college football game last Saturday. Was a little worried they’d be a hassle to make in the parking lot, but 5 minutes flat? No problem. Everyone was ditching their seltzers to ask for a cup. Only gripe is I wish I made a double batch, we ran out in 45 minutes.
I’ve tried so many Long Island iced tea recipes over the years and this one is hands down the best. The balance of liquors is perfect, no weird overpowering alcohol aftertaste like some versions have. I’ve already made it three times in the last two weeks for various hangouts.
Nice, straightforward recipe. I’ve been making Long Island iced teas since the 80s, and this is exactly the classic ratio I remember from my favorite bar back in college. No weird frills, no unnecessary add-ins, just the good stuff. Made a glass for me and the wife last night while we watched the game, she loved it too.
Was looking for an easy signature cocktail for my birthday get-together with friends and this did not disappoint. I added a little splash of cranberry juice to a few glasses for people who like fruitier drinks, and that was a huge hit too! The base recipe is so versatile.
Made this for my wife and I for our at-home date night last night, and she said it’s better than the ones we got on our honeymoon in the Caribbean. Win for me! Super easy to follow, I didn’t mess it up even though I’m totally new to making cocktails at home.
Okay I was skeptical that a 5-minute cocktail could actually be good, but wow. Made a glass after work yesterday and it was exactly what I needed after a long day of meetings and repotting plants. Smooth, refreshing, not too sweet. Will be adding this to my weekly rotation.
This recipe is a new staple for my backyard cookouts. I’m usually the guy in charge of burgers and brats, so having a quick, crowd-pleasing cocktail I can whip up without taking my eye off the grill is a total win. My brother-in-law who is a total cocktail snob even asked for the recipe, which is the highest possible praise.
Solid classic Long Island recipe, I’ve been making versions of this for years and this ratio is spot on. I do recommend using fresh lemon instead of the bottled sour if you can, it cuts down on that artificial sweet taste a lot of bad Long Islands have. Great for new home bartenders who don’t want to mess with complicated steps.