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- The classic Long Island iced Ttea recipe includes gin, vodka, rum, tequila, triple sec, sour mix, and cola.
- There are many variations of this drink, which substitute different liquors, juices, and sodas.
- The origin story of the Long Island iced tea remains controversial to this day.
- Visit Insider's Home & Kitchen Reference library for more stories.
With not one but five different kinds of alcohol, the Long Island iced tea is not a cocktail for the faint of heart – while it goes down dangerously easy, it's also a guaranteed hangover inducer.
A quick history
The history of this notoriously boozy drink is somewhat controversial. There are two competing legends, according to Cassandra Pease, the beverage director at Los Angeles' Hermanito: a popular one is that Robert "Rosebud" Butt (also known as Bob Butt) invented the Long Island iced tea while bartending on Long Island in 1972.
However, Pease says a strikingly similar cocktail – consisting of rum, vodka, whiskey, gin, tequila, and maple syrup – had already emerged during the roaring '20s, when prohibition was in full swing. That drink was reportedly created by an illegal distiller known as Charlie "Old Man" Bishop in Kingsport, Tennessee, a community that was also often referred to as Long Island.
The story goes that his son, Ransom Bishop, tweaked the recipe by adding cola and lemon juice. Some argue that Old Man Bishop's version isn't a true Long Island iced tea, though, because it doesn't contain triple sec. Either way, the first time a recipe for the Long Island iced tea appeared in print was in 1961, when it appeared in Betty Crocker's New Picture Cook Book.
Uncertain origins and high alcohol content aside, the Long Island iced tea can be a refreshing choice. Here's how to make this cocktail at home, whether you're unwinding solo or prepping for a larger bash.
Variations on the classic (and how to make them)
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There isn't just one way to make a Long Island iced tea - many new takes on this mixed drink have popped up over the years, according to Pease and Cocktail Society founder Timo Torner. Here's how to make some of the most popular variations:
- Long Beach iced tea: Replace the cola with cranberry juice.
- Tokyo iced tea: Replace the triple sec with Midori (melon liqueur) and the cola with lemon-lime soda.
- Tennessee iced tea: Replace the gin with Tennessee whiskey and leave out the tequila.
- Grateful Dead (a.k.a. Black Widow): Replace the triple sec with raspberry liqueur and the cola with lemon-lime soda.
- Texas tea: Add whiskey.
- Hawaiian iced tea: Replace the cola with pineapple juice.
- Boston tea party: Replace the triple sec with blue curaçao, and the cola with lemon-lime soda.
Insider's takeaway
While the Long Island iced tea has a long list of ingredients, it's surprisingly simple to make. It calls for equal parts of all the spirits included - and the cola doesn't need to be measured.
If you're not a fan of the traditional Long Island iced tea, there are a multitude of variations on this potent drink with various substitutions.
A word of warning, though: Long Island iced teas are very strong at 22% ABV, so it might be best to stick to just one.