If you haven’t done it yet, you should probably check out the first part to this article: The Long Island Iced Tea. It’s going to help you understand the basics of this drink before we start playing with different types of Long Island. Conveniently shown here… Click for full size
The Texas tea is really just a Long Island iced tea with a shot of bourbon. It’s a simple twist on a popular mixed drink and one that you’re sure to enjoy. Better yet, you can make it as a single drink or mix it up for a party.
The many different Long Islands
That’s right, I put the whole word in there. Not AMF, not Adios M***** F*****. We are adults. We are drinking alcohol and visiting alcohol websites. Why are we not mature enough to use the whole word???
That aside, I personally think of this as being the top dog, quintessential Long Island Variation. In this particular drink, you will swap out the Triple Sec for Blue Curacao, which is literally just a dyed blue version of Triple Sec. It also comes in green which is fun for St.Pattys Day. Instead of Coke, you will use Sprite (or lemon-lime soda if we are being weirdly generic *coughotherblogpostsaboutthissubjectcough*) You’ll notice a lot of that particular swap, since topping with sprite is basically the bandaid of cocktails.
The result is a shockingly vibrant, electric blue drink that captures the attention of anyone walking in and wondering what to drink. It’s also great if you’re one of those bars that puts a little flashing light in the cup with the ice to make the drink seem like a party.
What I really love about this one is that it’s the only common Long Island alternative that actually still has “long” in it for some reason. You could have said “The Beach Tea” and still been in keeping, and clearly a part of the family, but no. This beach had better be long.
In this cocktail, you will keep the Triple Sec as is, and instead substitute Cranberry for the Coke topper. Considering that Coke is rather flavorful and was still only a part of this cocktail for the color, it should come as no surprise that the Cranberry ‘Juice’ does not have significant impact on the drink itself. It will be ever so slightly more tart than a Long Island, and it will be pinkish red, which is probably the biggest selling point… other than for yeast infections I suppose.
Don’t forget to take it to the next step with the Miami Beach Tea, which includes 1/2 oz of Peach liqueur as well as the Cranberry, for that extra beach-y feeling.
This is actually my favorite (to drink) of all of the different types of Long Island. I’m a total sucker for raspberries and blackberries so that’s usually going to win my vote.
In order to create a Grateful Dead cocktail, you substitute the Triple Sec for Raspberry Liqueur. Typically that would be Chambord, but seeing as how it’s not exactly a top shelf cocktail, most places will use a more generic raspberry flavored liqueur, possibly from DeKuyper. Personally, I don’t think you will notice a big difference between the two in this cocktail, but the Chambord bottle is way cooler. Also, as stated above, you will substitute the coke for sprite, seeing as how this is a colored liqueur addition and you want to show that off a bit.
Another of the “Greats” among different types of Long island, the Tokyo Tea has its origins neither in Tokyo, nor tea. In fact, I’m not sure why they would call it that other than the vague idea that this drink is green, and green tea is consumed most commonly in Asian countries.
Once again, swap out the Coke for Sprite and add the bright green Midori Melon Liqueur instead of triple sec. This will give you an eye popping, fruity green drink that inebriated customers die for.
Admittedly, when I first heard this drink, I was absolutely disgusted. That hasn’t changed. I remain kind of grossed out, both by the name and the construction of the drink. Since I have several friends that enjoy this drink, I will hold off on calling it a total trash can of a cocktail, but only because that is the literal name of another drink.
The LA Water is a combination of the AMF and the Grateful Dead, in which you add both the Blue Curacao and the Raspberry Liqueur. In theory, you balance these two so the drink is not too sweet and has a delightful purple hue. In practice (and in my opinion, as implied by the name) what you usually get is a double dose of sugary liqueurs and and a brownish color that leans slightly more blue or slightly more red depending on which one your bartender over poured.
As a caveat to the above paragraph, in my ‘research’ on this topic I have found that many (including a certain slightly inebriated bartender that makes sugary drinks in 30 second increments online) also include Midori in their LA Waters as well, in order to give the drink the sickly green color of polluted bodies of water that we all love to make light of. While I question the validity of anyone needing inspiration from nature to create and name this particular drink, it makes perfect sense to me that this would be where the name came from. On the other hand, I’ve seen it ordered at many a bar and it has never once come with melon liqueur. Alas, since it is not an official cocktail in any sense, we will have to struggle on making it as you see fit.
In a wild twist, in this iteration of the Long Island, instead of substituting the liqueur, you merely add more real alcohol: Whiskey. With another equal serving of Bourbon, the classic Long Island is completely transformed into a new, exciting…. well, it tastes the same. Completely the same. But now there is whiskey so that’s pretty cool.
Can you guess? I’ll give you a hint, it’s the same thing that makes pizza Hawaiian too… PINEAPPLES! That’s right, if you are looking for that extra punch of vitamins in your carefully balanced diet, or just drinking lots of pineapple juice conspicuously in front of your girlfriend*, hoping she gets the hint, THIS IS THE DRINK FOR YOU!
*the juice used in your local bar has little to no vitamin content or similarity to what you would actually consider juice. There is also not enough in this drink to make your girlfriend enjoy your own juice, even if it were real pineapple juice. This has been a public health announcement.
Finally, now that you have accustomed yourself to these many intricacies, there is one final way that you can take your Long Island variation to the next level (up or down is yet to be determined). Add Red Bull. And no, you can’t just top with Red Bull or pour it in… to make a true “trash can” style LIIT, you must flip the can over inside the drink, so that as you drink from the straw, your beverage is continuously replenished by the energy drink on top. If you haven’t gotten properly wrecked by this point in the evening, this is sure to finish the job.
Technically speaking, the best way to accomplish this feat is to leave 2-3 inches between the top of the liquid in the glass and the top of the glass itself. It also works best with wider mouth glasses or cups, like ‘fish bowls’ employed in many bars for this whole purpose. You will then crack open your energy drink and VERY QUICKLY flip it over and right into the drink itself. You must be fast about this, otherwise you risk pouring out too much of the energy drink and not leaving enough room in the glass for the can to rest in. The ice in the glass should provide plenty of support for the can.
What Can you Change to make a different type of Long Island?
Whenever you are playing with a drink and you want to make something new, you have to identify the key factors that make it what it is. In the Lemon Drop, that will be Vodka and Lemon Juice. In this case, the Long Island Iced tea is defined by the use of four different liquors. When someone talks about a Long Island, that’s what they always gravitate towards; “Wow man, this has so much liquor in it! It mixes all the big ones!”
What that leaves for interpretation then is the sweetener (Triple Sec) and the Soda (Coke). Since the Coke is really only there for coloring purposes, it should be no surprise that it can (and should) be omitted in order to let other colors stand out more. Changing the Triple Sec out for other liqueurs then, will be the most effective way of creating different types of Long Island.
Does PRICE MATTER for a TEXAS TEA Cocktail
FAQ
What is the Texas Tea?
Is Long Island Iced Tea the strongest drink?
What is the difference between Long Beach and Long Island tea?
What is equivalent to Long Island Iced Tea?
What is Long Island iced tea?
In Texas, sweet tea is referred to as “Texas tea,” indicating its entrenched status within the local culture. The cocktail, Long Island Iced Tea, was created during prohibition so customers could enjoy the five different liquors in it but no tea. Long Island, Iced Tea recipe, is made with vodka, gin, tequila, rum, Triple Sec, lime juice, and cola.
How much liquor is in a Long Island iced tea?
To make a better Long Island iced tea, keep in mind that flavor is more important than potency. In total, this recipe contains 2 1/2 ounces of liquor. While it is on the light end of the Long Island’s spectrum, it’s still the same as drinking three or four beers. What’s the Difference Between a Long Island Iced Tea and Texas Tea?
Can a Long Island be turned into a Texas Tea?
To turn a Long Island into a Texas tea, simply add 1/2 ounce bourbon for an even more potent mix. Some people mistakenly refer to this as a Long Island, but whiskey is not included in the original (or accepted) recipe. “Truth be told, this cocktail is my guilty pleasure, and this recipe highlights the club classic.
Does Texas Tea add whiskey to Long Island iced tea?
Very simply, the Texas tea adds whiskey to the Long Island iced tea mix. *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.