Long Island Iced Tea

Best Spirits for a Long Island Iced Tea

Best Triple Sec

The most popular brands often spotted on bar shelves are Cointreau, Grand Marnier, and DeKuyper. Cointreau is a top-shelf option, delivering a clean, crisp orange flavor that elevates your cocktail. Grand Marnier brings a richer, almost cognac-like nuance that’s great if you’re after a more complex profile. DeKuyper is a budget-friendly choice, but it leans towards the sweeter side. If you’re looking to strike the perfect balance between quality and cost, Cointreau is your best bet. It gives the cocktail a bright citrus kick without overwhelming the other ingredients.

Best Tequila

Tequila in a Long Island Iced Tea isn’t just a drop in the bucket; it’s part of the spirit symphony that makes this drink a hit. Common choices are Jose Cuervo, Patron, and Espolon. Jose Cuervo is cost-effective but can bring a harsh note. Patron is smoother with a clean agave taste, but it’s also pricier. Espolon delivers on both flavor and affordability, offering a solid middle ground between the budget Jose Cuervo and the premium Patron. If you want a drink that delivers on taste without breaking the bank, Espolon is the go-to. It blends well with the other spirits, adding a hint of agave without overpowering the drink.

Best Rum

In the crowded lineup of Long Island Iced Tea, your choice of rum can be a game-changer. The usual suspects are Bacardi, Captain Morgan, and Mount Gay. Bacardi’s light rum is a safe and popular choice, blending seamlessly without stealing the spotlight. With its spiced profile, Captain Morgan could throw off the drink’s balance, so proceed with caution. Mount Gay offers a more nuanced, molasses-tinged flavor, elevating the cocktail. After weighing all options, Bacardi wins for its neutrality and mixability. It lets the other flavors shine while adding the right amount of rum kick.

Best Vodka

Big names like Smirnoff, Tito’s, and Grey Goose are often up for consideration. Smirnoff is budget-friendly but can be a bit harsh. Tito’s offers a cleaner, smoother sip and is American-made for those who care about that sort of thing. Grey Goose is the premium pick, but its subtleties might get lost in this multi-spirit mix. Tito’s is the choice that delivers without raiding your wallet. It provides a smooth backdrop for the other ingredients to play off without harsh aftertaste.

Pre-mixed and Ready-to-Drink Long Island Iced Tea

If you want to enjoy a Long Island Iced Tea without mixing five different spirits, pre-mixed options have got you covered. Brands like Cutwater Spirits and On The Rocks offer canned or bottled versions that capture the essence of the classic cocktail. Cutwater’s take is convenient and surprisingly close to a freshly made cocktail, boasting a 13.2% ABV. On The Rocks is another solid pick, offering a pre-made cocktail in a sleek glass bottle with a higher-end feel. But if you have to choose just one, go for Cutwater. Their balance of flavor and kick gets it just right, making it a standout in pre-mixed cocktails.

What is the difference between a Long Island Iced Tea and a Long Beach Iced Tea?

A Long Island Iced Tea and a Long Beach Iced Tea share a similar mix of spirits: vodka, Gin, rum, Tequila, and triple sec. The main difference lies in the mixers. A Long Island Iced Tea uses a splash of sour mix and a top-off of cola, giving it a darker appearance and a somewhat spicy kick. On the other hand, a Long Beach Iced Tea swaps out the cola for cranberry juice. This switch not only gives the drink a reddish hue but also lends it a fruitier, slightly tart flavor. So, if you’re after a classic, go with the Long Island; if you want a fruitier twist, the Long Beach is your pick.

Variations

Ready for a fresh experience? We’ve handpicked a few favorites you might find appealing:

• Tokyo Tea: This variation introduces Midori, lending a distinct melon flavor that’s both sweet and tantalizing. I particularly enjoy the refreshing and unique melon twist in this mix.
• Beach Tea: It incorporates coconut rum and cranberry juice, creating a tropical and tart taste that wonderfully captures the essence of a sunny beach.
• Blue Motorcycle: This mix features Blue Curaçao and lemon-lime soda, which add a vibrant color and a zesty citrus touch, making it visually appealing and refreshingly tangy.
• Long Beach Tea: In this mix, cranberry juice replaces cola, adding a pleasantly tart character that complements the other ingredients nicely.
• Grateful Dead Cocktail: This mix stands out with its use of raspberry liqueur instead of triple sec, infusing the beverage with a delightful berry flavor that’s both rich and appealing.
• Texas Tea: It includes Bourbon, enriching the blend with smoky and oaky notes, giving it a robust and distinctive character that sets it apart.
• California Tea: This mix uses orange juice and a splash of 7UP in place of lemon juice and cola, resulting in a lighter, fruitier experience that’s refreshing and less intense.
• Miami Tea: This variation features peach schnapps and lemon-lime soda instead of triple sec and cola, introducing a succulent fruitiness. I particularly enjoy the sweet and juicy quality brought by the peach schnapps.
• Black Opal: It swaps out cola for stout beer, creating a frothy, richer texture with malty undertones, resulting in a deeper, more complex flavor profile.
• Electric Iced Tea: This mix combines Blue Curaçao and lemon-lime soda, creating a colorful and zesty alternative that’s both fun and lively.
• Irish Tea: In this mix, Irish whiskey replaces Gin, introducing a maltier, woodsy flavor that gives it a more grounded and earthy taste.
• Adios Motherf***er: It maintains the typical lineup of vodka, rum, Gin, and tequila but adds Blue Curaçao and lemon-lime soda, creating a striking blue hue and bold flavor.
• Hawaiian Iced Tea: This mix replaces cola with pineapple juice, introducing a tropical, sweet note for a fruity, exotic experience that’s delightfully refreshing.

History and Origin

The Long Island Iced Tea is a strong cocktail that started in the 1970s in the United States. A bartender named Robert “Rosebud” Butt said he made it first in 1972. He was trying to win a contest to make a new drink with Triple Sec at a place called the Oak Beach Inn in Long Island, New York.

People liked this drink because it looked like regular iced tea but had a lot of alcohol. The usual recipe mixes vodka, tequila, light rum, triple sec, and gin with a bit of cola, which makes it look like tea. It also has lemon juice and sometimes a little sugar.

The cocktail became famous for being strong but smooth to drink. It’s now a common drink in American bars, liked by people who want a drink with a lot of alcohol that still tastes good.