Long Island Iced Tea
Despite its name, the Long Island Iced Tea contains no tea. It's a potent yet surprisingly balanced cocktail made with a mix of five white spirits, triple sec, a splash of cola, and a touch of sour mix, famous for its strong kick.
What is this drink?
The Long Island Iced Tea is the cocktail world's most audacious sleight of hand — five white spirits (vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec) combined with lemon juice and a splash of cola, which gives it the innocent amber color of iced tea despite containing no tea whatsoever. It became a 1970s and 80s classic and remains one of the most ordered cocktails in American bars.
Why you'll love it
Despite its reputation as a heavy-handed drink, a well-made Long Island Iced Tea is genuinely balanced — the five spirits blend together into a surprisingly harmonious whole where no single one dominates, and the lemon juice and cola create a sweet-tart, slightly caramel-cola backdrop. It is a party drink that delivers on every level.
When to serve
The Long Island Iced Tea belongs at casual bars, spring break celebrations, beach bars, and parties where the goal is fun over formality. It is not a sipping cocktail — it is a social drink meant to be enjoyed over ice at a long table with friends and plenty of food to accompany it.
Pro tip
The mistake most people make is using equal parts of everything including the cola, which makes it far too sweet and diluted. Use just a two to three ounce float of cola at the end for color and a hint of sweetness, and keep the spirits measured accurately at half an ounce each. Fresh lemon juice rather than pre-made sour mix makes an enormous difference to the quality of the final drink.
Vodka, Rum, Gin, and Tequila
The four base white spirits that form the backbone of the drink. Each contributes differently — vodka for clean alcohol, rum for slight sweetness, gin for botanical notes, and tequila for an agave earthiness — yet they blend into a surprisingly unified whole.
Triple Sec
The orange liqueur that adds sweetness and citrus complexity to bridge all five spirits. Cointreau provides a more refined version; standard triple sec keeps costs down for batch production.
Fresh Lemon Juice
The vital acid that balances the sweetness of the triple sec and cola. Fresh lemon juice gives the drink its sour, iced-tea-like tartness — this is the ingredient most often compromised with cheap substitutes.
Cola
Added as a float at the end, cola gives the drink its signature amber color and a caramel-sweet backdrop. Just two to three ounces is enough — it is meant to suggest iced tea, not dominate the flavor.
Swap Options
Replace triple sec with blue curaçao and add a splash of blue food coloring for a Long Island Blue Iced Tea. For a lighter version, reduce the spirits to a quarter ounce each and increase the cola and lemon. Substitute simple syrup for triple sec and use club soda instead of cola for a drier, less sweet variation. A 'Tokyo Iced Tea' adds Midori melon liqueur in place of cola for a green, tropical twist.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine spirits and mixers
In a highball glass (or large Collins glass), combine 0.5 ounce (15 ml) vodka, 0.5 ounce (15 ml) white rum, 0.5 ounce (15 ml) gin, 0.5 ounce (15 ml) blanco tequila, 0.5 ounce (15 ml) triple sec, 1 ounce (30 ml) fresh lemon juice, and 0.5 ounce (15 ml) simple syrup.
Tips:
- •Ensure all spirits are cold for optimal chilling.
Add ice
Fill the glass almost to the top with 1 serving of ice.
Tips:
- •Plenty of ice is crucial for chilling and proper dilution of this strong drink.
Top with cola
Top the mixture with 2-3 ounces (60-90 ml) of cola. The amount of cola can be adjusted to your taste for sweetness and color.
Tips:
- •Pour the cola slowly to avoid over-foaming.
Stir gently and garnish
Stir gently once or twice to combine all ingredients. Garnish with 1 lemon wedge.
Tips:
- •Avoid over-stirring to maintain the carbonation of the cola.
Flavor Profile
Alcohol Content
Fun Fact
Bartender's Tips
- While it has many spirits, the key is the balance of flavors, not tasting each spirit individually.
- Adjust the amount of lemon juice and simple syrup to balance the sweetness of the cola and triple sec.
- For a less sweet version, use less simple syrup or a drier triple sec.
- Always serve with plenty of ice to keep it cold and help with dilution.
Different ways to make this drink your own
Long Island Blue Iced Tea
Swap triple sec for blue curaçao to create a vibrant turquoise cocktail with the same spirit base. The blue curaçao adds a slightly more intense orange flavour and a stunning colour that makes this version a visual showstopper at parties.
Tokyo Iced Tea
Replace the cola with Midori melon liqueur for a tropical, bright green twist. The honeydew sweetness of Midori blends surprisingly well with the five white spirits, creating a fruitier, more exotic variation of the classic recipe.
Long Beach Iced Tea
Substitute cranberry juice for the cola to produce a pink, slightly tarter version of the Long Island. The cranberry's acidity cuts through the spirits differently from cola, making this variation feel cleaner and more refreshing.
Tools that make this drink come together
Highball or Collins Glass
A tall glass is essential for a Long Island Iced Tea, providing room for the spirits, lemon juice, ice, and cola float without overflow. The height also shows off the drink's amber colour and the cola gradient as it settles.
Jigger
Accurate measuring is critical for a balanced Long Island. With five spirits, even slight over-pouring of any one makes the drink unbalanced and unpleasantly strong. A jigger ensures each spirit is measured at exactly half an ounce.
Bar Spoon
A long bar spoon is used for the final gentle stir after adding the cola, folding everything together without losing too much carbonation from the cola float.
Can't Find These?
Any tall glass works in place of a Collins glass. Use a shot glass as an improvised jigger — a standard shot is 30ml, so half fill it for each spirit measure. Stir gently with any long spoon after adding the cola.
The right glass makes a real difference
Highball or Collins Glass
The Long Island Iced Tea's tall format requires a highball or Collins glass to accommodate the generous volume of five spirits, lemon juice, and cola over ice. The height allows the cola to be poured as a float, creating a visual gradient from amber at the top to lighter gold at the bottom. The wide mouth makes the drink easy to sip while preserving the cola's carbonation.
Alternatives
Any large tumbler or pint glass works well if a Collins glass is unavailable. A Mason jar is a popular casual alternative that suits the drink's party-focused personality. Avoid small glasses — the Long Island needs volume.
Perfect food pairings to complete the experience
Loaded Nachos
Crispy nachos piled with melted cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole are the ultimate Long Island partner. The rich, salty toppings stand up to the drink's strength while the coolness of the sour cream balances the alcohol.
BBQ Chicken Wings
Sticky, caramelised barbecue wings match the sweet-sour-cola character of the Long Island. The smoky richness of the meat contrasts with the drink's citrus backbone, making every sip feel refreshing.
Sliders
Mini beef or pulled pork sliders provide enough substance to balance the potency of a Long Island Iced Tea. The soft bun, juicy meat, and condiments make a satisfying companion to this strong cocktail.
Pizza
The combination of a Long Island Iced Tea and pizza is a reliable classic at casual gatherings. The cola notes in the cocktail complement the tomato sauce naturally, making this a crowd-pleasing, unfussy pairing.
Prep in advance for effortless serving
Batch the Spirit Mix
Combine vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a large bottle and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Pour over ice and top with cola per glass when serving — this eliminates measuring during the party.
Pre-Squeeze Lemons
Juice all your lemons several hours ahead and store in a sealed container in the fridge. Fresh lemon juice holds its brightness for up to 8 hours, removing the most time-consuming prep step from party service.
Chill the Cola
Keep cola refrigerated and only open bottles when needed. Cold cola stays fizzy longer when poured, preserving the light effervescence that makes the Long Island feel less overwhelming despite its strength.
Set Up a Garnish Station
Pre-cut lemon wedges and arrange them in a small bowl ahead of time. Having garnishes ready means you can plate each drink immediately without hunting for fruit mid-service.
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