How to Make a Classic Long Island Iced Tea at Home

Packing a serious punch, this classic Long Island Iced Tea Recipe combines five spirits—tequila, rum, vodka, gin, and triple sec—with fresh lemon and a splash of cola. Surprisingly balanced and easy to make, serve it in a highball glass for one or scale up to a pitcher for a crowd.

What is a Long Island Iced Tea?

The Long Island Iced Tea is a potent mixed drink traditionally made with equal parts vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec (or Cointreau), plus fresh lemon juice (or sour mix) and a splash of cola. Despite the name, the drink contains no actual iced tea—the final color after mixing resembles iced tea, especially when served in a tall glass with a lemon wedge.

Because multiple spirits are used with only a small amount of mixer, Long Island Iced Teas typically have a higher alcohol concentration than many other cocktails. Enjoy responsibly.

The modern recipe is usually credited to Robert “Rosebud” Butt, who reportedly entered a triple-sec cocktail contest on Long Island in 1972 and introduced this combination.

What’s in a Long Island Iced Tea?

The classic build is simple: five clear distilled spirits, fresh lemon juice, ice, and a splash of cola. Here’s a standard single-serve ingredient list:

• 1/2 ounce Vodka
• 1/2 ounce White Rum
• 1/2 ounce Gin
• 1/2 ounce Tequila Blanco
• 1/2 ounce Orange Liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau)
• 1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
• Ice
• Cola, a splash to top

Some versions substitute sour mix for lemon juice; others swap the cola for a different mixer—see variations below.

How to Make a Long Island Iced Tea

This cocktail is quick to assemble. A jigger and shaker are handy, but you can make it directly in the glass if needed.

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, and lemon juice (reserve the cola and lemon wedge).
3. Shake briefly until chilled, about 5–10 seconds.
4. Strain or pour into a highball glass filled with ice.
5. Top with a splash of cola, give a light stir, and garnish with a lemon wedge.

If you don’t have a shaker, combine the ingredients (except cola) in the highball glass over ice, stir well, then top with cola and garnish.

Popular Variations

There are many playful spins on the original. A few favorites:

• Texas Tea – Add bourbon in addition to the five base spirits for extra depth.
• Long Beach Iced Tea – Replace cola with cranberry juice for a tart, reddish drink.
• Electric Iced Tea – Swap triple sec for blue curaçao and cola for lemon-lime soda for a bright blue cocktail.
• Hawaiian Iced Tea – Use pineapple juice instead of cola for a tropical twist.
• Tokyo Iced Tea – Replace the cola with Midori for a sweet, green variation.

Long Island Iced Tea Recipe

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