The Long Island Iced Tea is a bold cocktail made with vodka, gin, tequila, white rum, and triple sec, balanced with lemon juice, simple syrup, and a splash of cola. Despite its name, it contains no tea it just looks like it. Expect a strong, refreshing drink at around 22% ABV.

Few cocktails carry a reputation quite like the Long Island Iced Tea. It's sweet, deceptively smooth, and packs a serious punch thanks to five different spirits in one glass. That amber color fools plenty of first-timers into thinking they're sipping something innocent.

How Do You Make a Long Island Iced Tea?

To make a Long Island Iced Tea, combine equal parts vodka, gin, tequila, white rum, and triple sec with lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake, strain into an ice-filled highball glass, top with a splash of cola, and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Here's a snapshot before we get into the details:

Detail	Info
Prep time	5 minutes
Servings	1 cocktail
Calories	~276–292 per serving
Alcohol content	~22% ABV
Glassware	Highball or Collins glass
Difficulty	Easy

Classic Long Island Iced Tea Recipe

This version follows the International Bartenders Association (IBA) standard, the most widely recognized formula for the drink.

Ingredients:

• ½ oz (15 ml) vodka
• ½ oz (15 ml) gin
• ½ oz (15 ml) tequila (blanco)
• ½ oz (15 ml) white rum
• ½ oz (15 ml) triple sec (Cointreau works well)
• ¾ oz (25 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz (30 ml) simple syrup
• Splash of cola (to top)
• Lemon wedge, to garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add the vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake for 10–15 seconds until well chilled.
4. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh cubed ice.
5. Top with a splash of cola just enough to give that signature iced-tea color.
6. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.

That's it. The whole thing takes about five minutes.

Where Did the Long Island Iced Tea Come From?

The Long Island Iced Tea has two competing origin stories. The most popular credits Robert "Rosebud" Butt, who says he invented it in 1972 during a cocktail contest at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, New York. A second claim points to "Old Man Bishop," who reportedly made an early version during Prohibition in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Bishop's Prohibition-era recipe was different it used whiskey and maple syrup, with no triple sec. His son Ransom later added cola, lemon, and lime. Butt's modern version, with five equal spirits and a cola top, is the one most bars serve today. Either way, the name comes from the drink's resemblance to iced tea, not from any actual tea.

Understanding the Ingredients

Each component plays a specific role. Here's what each one brings to the glass:

Quality tips:

• Use fresh lemon juice, not bottled. It makes a noticeable difference.
• Mid-shelf spirits are ideal you don't need top-shelf bottles, since the flavors blend together.
• Make simple syrup at home by dissolving equal parts sugar and hot water.

Easy Long Island Iced Tea Recipe for Beginners

If you're just starting out, keep it simple. Measure equal ½-oz pours of the five spirits, add lemon juice and syrup, shake, and top with cola. A jigger helps you stay accurate, which matters a lot in a drink this strong.

Don't have every spirit on hand? You can still get close. Skip one spirit and slightly increase the others, or use a citrus vodka in place of gin for a smoother result. The drink is forgiving as long as you keep the sour-to-sweet balance in check.

Popular Variations and Modern Twists

Swap out a single ingredient and you get a completely different cocktail. These riffs share the same base method:

The Long Island Green Tea, sometimes called a Tokyo Tea, is a fun one Midori gives it a bright green color and a melon sweetness that softens the boozy bite.

What Foods Pair Well With a Long Island Iced Tea?

The Long Island Iced Tea pairs best with salty, spicy, and hearty foods that stand up to its sweet, boozy profile. Think buffalo chicken, loaded nachos, crispy fried appetizers, and sharp cheeses. Rich, savory bites help balance the sweetness and slow down the alcohol.

Because the drink is strong, food matters more than you'd think. A plate of something greasy and satisfying makes for a better experience and helps soak up all that liquor.

Bartending Tips and Common Mistakes

A few small habits separate a good Long Island from a sloppy one:

• Measure everything. With five spirits, guessing leads to an unbalanced (and dangerously strong) drink.
• Go easy on the cola. It's for color, not flavor. Too much makes the drink flat and overly sweet.
• Use plenty of fresh ice. Melted, watery ice dilutes the cocktail fast.
• Shake, then strain over new ice. This chills the drink without watering down your serving glass.

Making a batch for guests? Multiply the spirit and citrus measurements, mix everything except the cola in a pitcher, and refrigerate. Add cola and pour over fresh ice only when you're ready to serve this keeps it from going flat.

Can You Make a Long Island Iced Tea Ahead of Time?

Yes. You can pre-mix the spirits, lemon juice, and simple syrup up to 24 hours in advance and store the mixture in a sealed container in the fridge. Add cola and ice only at serving time. Skipping this step early keeps the cola fizzy and the drink from tasting watered down.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much alcohol is in a Long Island Iced Tea?
A Long Island Iced Tea contains about 22% ABV, notably higher than most highball cocktails because it uses five spirits with very little mixer.

How many calories are in a Long Island Iced Tea?
A standard serving has roughly 276 to 292 calories, mostly from the spirits, simple syrup, and cola.

Does a Long Island Iced Tea contain actual tea?
No. It contains no tea. The name comes from its amber color, which resembles iced tea.

What spirits go in a Long Island Iced Tea?
The classic recipe uses five spirits: vodka, gin, tequila, white rum, and triple sec, in equal parts.

What glass should I use?
A highball or Collins glass is standard, filled with plenty of cubed ice.

Can I make it without one of the spirits?
Yes. Omitting one spirit still works slightly increase the others to keep the volume and balance consistent.

What's the best cola to use?
Any standard cola works. Use just a splash for color, since too much overpowers the drink.

How do I make it less strong?
Reduce the spirit pours to ¼ oz each, or add more cola and lemon juice to dilute the alcohol.

What's the difference between a Long Island and a Long Beach Iced Tea?
A Long Beach Iced Tea swaps cola for cranberry juice, giving it a fruitier, pinker finish.

Can I batch it for a party?
Yes. Pre-mix the spirits, lemon juice, and syrup in a pitcher, then add cola and ice just before serving.