More Like Long Island Iced Tea
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Let us know how it came out (and what your favorite twists on it are!) in the comments below.
Somehow reminiscent of restaurant chains, dive bars, and frat basements alike, the Long Island Iced Tea brings to mind varying memories (and feelings), depending on who you’re talking to. For some, it’s a headache in a glass that brings to mind college days gone by; for others, it’s exactly the sweet yet ultra-boozy drink they’re searching for on a night out. No matter your feelings on the classic cocktail, one thing is for sure: Its ability to hide the combination of 5 alcohols behind a refreshing sweet tea taste is nothing short of incredible. Read on to discover just how this ultra-boozy, refreshing, party-starting summer cocktail gets its signature flavor (and reputation):
Making simple syrup is, well, simple. Start by bringing sugar and 1/2 c. water to a boil in a saucepan, then whisk the mixture until all the sugar has dissolved. Simply remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool completely.
To complete the sour mix, transfer the syrup to an airtight container and add in lemon, lime, and grapefruit juice, stirring to combine. Seal the container shut and refrigerate the sour mix until ready for use.
Combine the pre-made sour mix with tequila, gin, triple sec, vodka, and rum in a cocktail shaker, and fill the shaker with ice. Cover the shaker and vigorously shake so that the contents inside hit both the top and bottom of the shaker with each shake and the outside of the shaker turns very frosty. This should take about 20 seconds.
Then fill 2 Collins glasses with ice and strain the shaken mixture over the ice, topping off with Coke to fill. Garnish the cocktail with lemon wedges and serve.
The Long Island Iced Tea is one of the most riffed upon cocktails out there, with every bar and bartender adding their own flair. They’ve added in an equal amount of bourbon for a Texas Tea, swapped the Coke for a lemon-lime soda and add a little raspberry liquor like Chambord for a cocktail sometimes referred to as a Grateful Dead, or have swapped the triple sec for Midori for a Tokyo Tea…. why not do the same at home?
(100 G.) granulated sugar
fresh lemon juice
fresh lime juice
fresh grapefruit juice
homemade sour mix, or 1 1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice plus 1 oz. simple syrup
blanco tequila
gin
triple sec
vodka
white rum
Ice
Coca-Cola, for topping off
Lemon wheels or wedges, for serving
Let us know how it came out (and what your favorite twists on it are!) in the comments below.