Long Island Ice Tea

Equal parts rum, gin, vodka, Triple Sec, lemon juice, and orange juice poured over ice in a highball glass with just a dash of cola on top. The cola gives it that iced tea color that earned this cocktail its name, even though there’s not a tea leaf in sight.

Five different spirits in one glass sounds like a mess, but the genius of a Long Island is that no single liquor dominates. The lemon and orange juice smooth them together, the Triple Sec adds a little sweetness, and the cola ties it all into something that goes down dangerously easy for how strong it actually is.

The “dash” of cola matters. This isn’t a rum and Coke situation. You want just enough to tint the drink and add a hint of caramel sweetness, not enough to turn it into a fizzy soda.

Pro Tips

• Use fresh lemon juice, not bottled. Bottled lemon juice tastes flat and metallic in a drink with this little to hide behind.
• Keep your proportions truly equal. The balance falls apart if any one spirit takes over. One ounce of each is standard per serving.
• Build over plenty of ice in a tall glass. The ice dilution is part of the recipe, mellowing the alcohol as you drink.
• This is a strong cocktail. One is a drink. Two is a decision. Pace accordingly.

Variations

• Swap the cola for cranberry juice for a Long Beach Iced Tea with a tart, fruity finish.
• Use sweet and sour mix instead of the lemon and orange juice for a shortcut bar-style version.
• Add a splash of blue curacao instead of Triple Sec for an Electric Blue Long Island with a striking color.