How to Make a Long Island Iced Tea

Long Island Iced Tea is a very popular cocktail that is made with vodka, gin, light rum, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup, and cola. There isn't any actual iced tea in the drink––it's so named because it looks a bit like an iced tea when put together. A perfect drink for the warmer evenings.

EditIngredients

• 1/2 oz (15 ml) vodka
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) gin
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) light rum
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) tequila
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) triple sec or Cointreau
• 1 oz (30 ml) lime juice or lemon juice (fresh is best)
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) simple syrup or gomme syrup
• Splash of cold cola
• 1 1/2 oz (45 ml) sweet and sour mix or lime cordial instead of lime juice and simple syrup (optional)
• Lemon wedge garnish
• Broken ice or ice cubes for glass, ice cubes for shaker

EditSteps

1. 1
   Fill a highball, collins or other tall glass such as a hurricane glass with the broken ice or ice cubes.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Add all of the ingredients except the cola to the cocktail shaker.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Cap the shaker.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Shake the ingredients one or two times to barely mix them or shake vigorously for about five seconds (shake the drink as desired according to local customs or desired taste).
   
   
   
6. 6
   Strain into the glass.
   
   
   
7. 7
   Top off with a splash of cola.
   
   
   
8. 8
   Garnish with the lemon wedge.
   
   
   
9. 9
   Serve.
   
   
   

EditVideo

How to make a long island iced tea.

EditTips

• The tequila may be omitted if desired.
• If a cocktail shaker is not available, pour the ingredients except the cola into the ice-filled glass, stir, then top off with the cola.
• For a berry version, use cranberry juice instead of the cola. This is known as Long Beach iced tea.
• If you leave out the Cointreau or triple sec, you have Texas tea.
• Leave out the cola and use lemonade instead for Long Island lemonade.

EditWarnings

• Drink alcoholic beverages responsibly.

EditThings You'll Need

• Cocktail shaker
• Cocktail strainer
• Highball, Collins or other tall glass