The BEST Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail Recipe!
I could use a drink–I usually go with a Margarita–but today I’m making a refreshingly boozy and delicious Long Island Iced Tea!
Classic Long Island Iced Teas are STRONG cocktails made with vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec, fresh lemon, and cola.
Why I LOVE this recipe
I mean, this classic Long Island Iced Tea cocktail is just what you need after a long hard day!
If you’re in the mood for a stiff drink–my recipe is perfect! I’m partial to making LIITs with quality spirits–which I highly recommend.
Bottom line, if you love mixing this drink as much as I do, take a moment to read through my tips and simple recipe.
What does a Long Island Iced Tea taste like?
My homemade Long Island Ice Tea is made with good middle-shelf spirits–and offers a complex blend of flavors that includes sweet and tart with a prominent alcohol kick.
LIITs at the bar taste like a glass of trouble. I mean, heavily poured cheap liquors and bottled lemon juice aren’t exactly my ‘cup of tea’.
Let’s make a Long Island Iced Tea! ♡
Ingredient notes
- Vodka – When choosing vodka for a Long Island Iced Tea, I go for something mid-range. I usually stock Absolut or Stolichnaya, but use what you know you enjoy. Tito’s and Smirnoff are good budget-friendly options too.
- Gin – Hendrick’s, Beefeater, and Bombay Sapphire are all good choices.
- Blanco Tequila – Choose a good quality blanco (silver) tequila. Jose Cuervo is my go-to.
- White rum – I’m a fan Bacardi Silver Rum, but any white rum works here.
- Triple Sec – Triple Sec is a sweet, orange flavored liqueur. I recommend Cointreau or DeKuyper for the best LIITs!
- Fresh lemon juice – I’m a stickler on using fresh lemon juice. I realize it’s more work, but the taste is much better.
- Cola – Coca Cola or Pepsi work (for that tea-like color). I’m watching my figure and topped mine with Diet Coke.
- Ice – You can’t make a refreshing Long Island Iced Tea without it!
- Lemon wheel garnish – I love adding an lemon wheel (or wedge) to my glass. As you sip your LIIT, you’ll get a lemony aroma, which hides the strength of the drink.
You are also welcome to add:
- Optional sweetener: If you would like to sweeten your LIIT, or choose budget-friendly spirits, I recommend adding 1 oz. of simple syrup. I’m watching my figure and like to use a sugar-free simple syrup (boil ½ cup water, stir in 2 packets of Truvia, and let cool).
Did you know? All the spirits in a Long Island Iced Tea are white (clear). Check out my FAQs section further below for more.
Long Island Iced Tea ratio
Here’s the right Long Island Iced Tea ratio:
- ½ oz. of each spirit (vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec) to 1 oz. fresh lemon juice and 1 oz. cola
- OR 1 part of each spirit (vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec) to 2 parts fresh lemon juice to 2 parts cola
Some recipes call for ¾ oz. of each spirit–you can adjust the ratio depending on how strong you like your Long Island Iced Tea.
The ½ oz. liquor pour is the most commonly used. I find this classic, yet potent approach just right!
How to make a Long Island Iced Tea
Ready to learn how to make a Long Island Iced Tea? Here’s what you need to do:
First, prep your glass. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes until ready to use.
Second, shake! Add the vodka, gin, tequila, rum, fresh lemon juice, and a handful of ice to your cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously until the ingredients are chilled. If you don’t have a shaker, I’d use a mason jar–or simply stir the ingredients together.
Then, strain your LIIT. Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker over a glass filled with ice. Top your glass with cola (I used Coca Cola), and garnish it with a lemon slice. Serve with a straw.
Finally, taste and adjust. This step is essential when you’re making a cocktail at home. It gives you a chance to customize your drink to your tastes. If you’re using budget-friendly spirits, I recommend adding an ounce of simple syrup to balance the harshness. Not strong enough? Well, you know what to do.
How To make a pitcher of Long Island Iced Tea
If you want to make a pitcher of Long Island Iced Tea, I recommend my easy recipe below to make enough for a crowd of 10!
Ingredients
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 cup gin
- 1 cup white rum
- 1 cup tequila
- 1 cup triple sec (orange liqueur)
- 1½ cups fresh lemon juice
- 1½ cups simple syrup (optional, adjust to taste)
- 4 cups cola
- Lemon slices (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pitcher. In a large 90 oz. pitcher, combine the vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and (optional) simple syrup if using budget liquors.
- Chill. Stir the mixture well and chill it in the refrigerator or serve immediately over ice.
- Add Cola. Just before serving, add the cola to the pitcher and give it a gentle stir.
- Serve. Pour into highball glasses filled with ice.
- Garnish. Add lemon slices for garnish. Serve with a straw.
There are also lots of ways you can make it more special (see the “variations” section below).
Easy variations on Long Island Iced Teas
Here are a few of my favorite simple tweaks that you can make to this classic Long Island Iced Tea recipe:
- Texas Tea – This variation adds ½ ounce of bourbon to the traditional Long Island Iced Tea recipe, resulting in a stronger cocktail.
- Long Beach Iced Tea – Instead of cola, this version uses cranberry juice, giving it a fruitier and slightly tart flavor.
- Tokyo Iced Tea – Similar to the Aqua Velva but uses Midori (melon liqueur) instead of blue curaçao for a fruity twist.
- Miami Iced Tea – In this cocktail, tequila is replaced with peach schnapps and cola is substituted with lemon-lime soda, creating a sweeter, summery drink.
- Electric Iced Tea – This drink swaps the triple sec for blue curaçao and replaces cola with lemon-lime soda, resulting in a vibrant blue color and a refreshing taste.
- Aqua Velva – A simpler mix that includes vodka, gin, blue curaçao, and lemon-lime soda, this drink maintains the spirit-forward profile while being less complex than a Long Island.
Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
I love this classic Long Island Iced Tea recipe! It’s easy to make one or a pitcher for a crowd. I use my favorite mid-shelf spirits.
Long Island Iced Tea
Ingredients
- ½ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce white rum
- ½ ounce gin
- ½ ounce blanco tequila
- ½ ounce triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce cola (to top off)
- Ice cubes
- Lemon wheel garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
- Pour in the vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice over the ice.
- Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well chilled.
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Strain the mixture from the shaker into the glass.
- Top with Cola to fill the glass.
- Stir gently.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel or wedge.
- Serve a straw.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor (not the bottled stuff).
- For a smoother finish, I opt for quality spirits. If you're using budget-friendly liquors, mask the harshness by adding 1 oz. of simple syrup.
- I use chilled Coke or Diet Coke. Experiment with different cola brands to find your preferred taste.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 4.5Amount Per Serving:Calories: 250Sodium: 11mgCarbohydrates: 14gNet Carbohydrates: 14gSugar: 13g
Long Island Iced Tea FAQs
Why don’t I use sweet and sour mix in my Long Island Iced Tea recipe?
The original Long Island Iced Tea recipes calls for fresh lemon juice and cola rather than sweet and sour mix.
Where did Long Island Iced Tea originate?
The exact origin of the Long Island Iced Tea is debated. One popular origin story is that it was created in the early 1970s by Robert “Rosebud” Butt at the Oak Beach Inn in Babylon, New York.
How STRONG is a Long Island Iced Tea?
You might want to pace yourself. The Long Island Iced Tea is known for its high 20% and 22% ABV (alcohol by volume). The way bartenders heavy pour may lead to a stronger drink than intended. Approach with caution, LIIT’s taste can mask it’s strength.
Does a Long Island Iced Tea cocktail contain iced tea?
Despite it’s name, the classic Long Island Iced Tea doesn’t actually contain tea. The cola gives the drink its amber color–which resembles iced tea.
More cocktail recipes I know you’ll LOVE!
Outside of this Long Island Iced Tea cocktail, there are so many more cocktail recipes! Here are some of my best drink collections:
- Classic Margarita Recipe
- 20 Reposado Cocktails (+ Recipes)
- 50 Best Gin Martinis (+ Recipes)
- Tequila and Sprite Cocktail Recipe
Please let me know how your Long Island Iced Teas turn out in the comments! I hope you make the best Long Island Iced Tea you’ve ever had.
Cheers!