How to make a Long Island iced tea and all its variations

• 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.

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.

Remember: A Long Island iced tea clocks in at a whopping 22% ABV - almost twice that of a glass of wine or three times that of a beer.

Ingredients

• Gin
• Vodka
• White rum
• Tequila
• Triple sec
• Sour mix
• Cola
• Lemon slice (optional)
  
  

What else you need

• Cocktail shaker
• Strainer
• Jigger or measuring spoon
• Ice

Quick tip: If you find that a traditional Long Island iced tea is too sweet, Pease recommends leaving out the sour mix, which contains simple syrup, and opting for fresh lemon juice instead.

How to make a Long Island iced tea

Follow these steps to make a single-serve Long Island iced tea, per Pease's advice. She notes that ½ an ounce of each spirit makes for a well-balanced cocktail - which is also less likely to leave you with a pounding headache in the morning. If you don't have a jigger, measure out 1 tablespoon of each.

1. Mix. To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add equal parts gin, rum, vodka, tequila, triple sec, and sour mix.
2. Shake. Secure the cap on the shaker and shake for about 30 seconds. This not only chills the drink but melts some of the ice to dilute it for a smoother taste.
3. Pour. Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice. Top it with a splash of cola.
4. Serve. Garnish with a lemon slice or wedge.

Quick tip: To make a larger batch for an event, leave out the cola until serving. Measure out equal parts of all the other ingredients (1 cup each is Pease's recommendation), add them to a large bowl or pitcher, and keep it refrigerated. Serve the drink in highball glasses filled with ice, and top with a splash of cola.

Variations on the classic (and how to make them)

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.