According to The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks: Classic Favorites, New Ingredients, Modern Techniques, the Oak Beach Inn of the Hampton Bays gave the Long Island Ice Tea its notoriety. The popular bar served this five-liquor drink at happy hour, and has been a favorite ever since.
The key to making this drink that contains so many liquors is to use top-shelf brands and to keep the total alcohol content to 2 ½ oz, which is comparable to many other cocktails. The predominantly liquor Long Island Ice Tea becomes dangerous when made too strongly.
What Is in a Long Island Ice Tea?
- ½ oz vodka
- ½ oz gin
- ½ oz rum
- ½ oz tequila
- ½ oz triple sec
- ¾ ounce simple syrup (recipe below)
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- 3 oz cola
How to Make a Long Island Ice Tea
- Fill a drink shaker with ice.
- Add vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake until well mixed and slightly chilled.
- Pour into an ice filled glass. Top with cola.
How to Make Simple Syrup
Combine equal parts of sugar and water. Heat in a saucepan, stirring continuously, until sugar is dissolved. Cool and refrigerate if not using immediately.
Resources
DeGroff, Dale, and David Kressler. The Essential Cocktail: the Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks : classic Favorites, New Ingredients, Modern Techniques. New York: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2008. Print.
Feller, Robyn M. The Complete Bartender. Rev. Berkley trade pbk. ed. New York: Berkley Books, 2003. Print.
