United States (a riff on the Long Island Iced Tea) · American
Long Beach Iced Tea (Cranberry, Not Cola)
The Long Island's pink West Coast cousin — the same five-spirit build, but topped with tart cranberry juice instead of cola for a brighter, fruitier, less sweet drink.
Published June 26, 2026
Cultural context
The Long Beach is the best-known variation on the Long Island Iced Tea: swap the cola for cranberry juice and you get a pink, tart, slightly drier drink. The name plays on Long Beach, California — the West Coast answer to a Long Island original.
The Long Beach Iced Tea is the Long Island’s pink cousin. Keep the five-spirit base exactly the same, then top with tart cranberry juice instead of cola. The result is brighter, fruitier and a touch drier — but every bit as strong.
Same base, different top
The whole trick is the swap: cranberry for cola. Everything else — the half-ounce pours of vodka, rum, gin, tequila and triple sec, the fresh lemon, the little syrup — stays identical to a Long Island Iced Tea.
Use real cranberry
Proper cranberry juice keeps it tart and dry. Sweetened “cranberry cocktail” tips the whole thing into candy territory, which buries the spirits and the lemon.
Still a heavyweight
The fruit makes it dangerously easy to drink, but the alcohol is unchanged. Sip slowly and have water alongside. More in the Drinks guide.
Ingredients
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) vodka
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) white rum
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) gin
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) blanco tequila
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) triple sec (Cointreau or good orange liqueur)
- 20 ml (0.66 oz) fresh lemon juice Fresh only — it keeps the cranberry from tasting like sweet juice.
- 10 ml (0.33 oz) simple syrup (1:1), to taste
- Top, about 45 ml (1.5 oz) cranberry juice Use proper cranberry juice (not sweetened 'cocktail') for a tart, drier finish.
- lime wedge, to garnish
- ice
Method
Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.
-
Fill a tall highball glass with ice and add the vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
Why: Building over ice keeps the drink cold; half-ounce pours keep five spirits balanced rather than overpowering.
-
Stir briefly, then top with cranberry juice until the glass glows a clear pink.
Why: Cranberry replaces cola here as both colour and tartness — add it last so you can stop at the shade and dryness you want.
-
Garnish with a lime wedge and serve with a straw.
Why: A squeeze of lime sharpens the cranberry and ties the build together.
A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.
Variations
- Original Long Island
Top with cola instead of cranberry for the classic amber version.
- Bay Breeze twist
Use half cranberry, half pineapple juice on top for a softer, tropical edge.
- Less boozy
Drop to 10 ml of each spirit and lengthen with extra cranberry.
Serving & Storage
Serve ice-cold in a tall glass with a straw. Like its Long Island parent, it's strong — pace yourself.
Pairs with: Fish tacos, Chicken wings, Salty popcorn, Sliders.
Storage: Make to order. Pre-batch the five spirits and triple sec in equal parts and refrigerate; add fresh lemon, syrup and cranberry per glass.
Nutrition
Per serving (1 cocktail (~240 ml))
- Calories
- 215
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 17 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Sodium
- 5 mg
Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from a Long Island Iced Tea?
It's the same five-spirit base; the only change is topping with cranberry juice instead of cola. That makes it pink, tarter and a little less sweet.
What cranberry juice should I use?
Real, unsweetened or lightly sweetened cranberry gives the best tart, dry finish. Sugary 'cranberry cocktail' blends will make it taste candy-sweet.
Is it weaker than a Long Island?
No — same spirit load. The fruit just makes it taste gentler, which is exactly why it's easy to underestimate.
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