It’s hard to know where and when the Long Island Iced Tea, perhaps one of the most infamous cocktails in modern times, was truly invented.
Who Invented the Long Island Iced Tea?
The city of Kingsport, Tennessee, has claimed it as their own, with tourism officials stating it was created by moonshine distiller Charlie “Old Man” Bishop during the Prohibition era and named after a nearby island in the Holston River. This original version was said to include modern staples like vodka, gin, rum and tequila, but also included whiskey and maple syrup.
However, in an escalation of local tourism board public relations wars, New York’s Long Island disputed this account, claiming the drink was created much later in the 1970s by Robert “Rosebud” Butt, then a bartender at Jones Beach’s now-defunct Oak Beach Inn. That version hews closer to the Long Island Iced Tea made worldwide today. It includes triple sec and cola while omitting brown spirits.
What Is the Alcohol Content of a Long Island Iced Tea?
To bust one myth, when made to spec, a Long Island Iced Tea is not boozier than most other standard cocktails. Four full-fledged liquors are used but in half-ounce pours, meaning that added all together they comprise a full 2 ounces, which tends to be the standard amount for most single-spirit cocktails. There’s technically a fifth spirit here, too: Triple sec is a lower-proofed liqueur commonly used as a sweetening agent. Altogether, this makes your Long Island Iced Tea akin to a standard margarita, sidecar or even Cosmo in the alcohol-by-volume department.
The most notable achievement of the Long Island Iced Tea is that for a cocktail that sounds disgusting on paper—vodka, gin, tequila and rum in the same glass—it actually comes together in a deceptively easy-drinking package. Perhaps this is why the perception of its strength persists, not because of the overall alcohol content of the drink, but how quickly and easily they can be chugged.
Long Island Iced Tea – Tipsy Bartender
FAQ
What does a Long Island drink contain?
What types of liquor are in Long Island?
Is a Long Island the strongest drink?
How many shots of alcohol are in a Long Island?
What alcohol is in a Long Island iced tea?
Read my disclosure policy. Packing a serious punch, this classic Long Island Iced Tea Recipe is made with five types of alcohol including tequila, rum, vodka, gin, and triple sec. Surprisingly delicious, serve this simple cocktail in a highball glass for one, or mix together a pitcher and make it a party! What is a Long Island Iced Tea?
What is a good cocktail to drink on Long Island?
Among the most famous cocktails, Long Island iced tea is at the top of the list. Despite the fact that it contains no tea, this cocktail is as refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea. The taste is surprisingly similar too, but it can pack a punch, and all that alcohol can quickly sneak up on you.
How to make Long Island iced tea?
The good people of Long Island won’t be offended. Add the vodka, rum, tequila, gin, triple sec, simple syrup and lemon juice to a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of the cola and stir briefly. Garnish with a lemon wedge. Serve with a straw. The Long Island Iced Tea is as boozy as cocktails get.
What drinks go well with Long Island iced tea?
Tequila. An un-aged tequila like Espolòn Tequila Blanco works really well in a Long Island Iced Tea. Gin. A nice London Dry Gin like Bulldog Gin adds some fresh herbaceous notes to the drinks symphony. Grand Marnier. A well-heeled orange liqueur like Grand Marnier is always good for a little bit of zesty heft. Cola.