Long Island, New York (Prohibition-era claim) / Tennessee (rival origin) · American
Long Island Iced Tea (Five Spirits, No Tea)
The infamous Long Island Iced Tea, built in balance — five clear spirits, orange liqueur, fresh lemon and just enough cola to fake the colour of tea. Strong by design, but measured, not muddled.
Published June 26, 2026
Cultural context
Despite the name there's no tea in it — the cola and lemon just mimic the look of iced tea. The popular story credits a 1970s bartender named Robert 'Rosebud' Butt at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, though a Prohibition-era Tennessee community called Long Island makes its own claim. Either way it became the 1980s byword for a deceptively strong drink.
The Long Island Iced Tea has a reputation as a frat-house bomb, but built properly it’s a precise drink: five clear spirits and orange liqueur in tiny equal pours, brightened with fresh lemon, sweetened just so, and topped with only enough cola to fake the colour of iced tea. Strong, yes — but balanced.
Half-ounce pours, not heavy hands
The secret to a drinkable LIIT is restraint. Each of the five spirits goes in at 15 ml (half an ounce), so together they make one full, potent drink rather than a brutal one. Measure them — eyeballing is how this drink earned its bad name.
Fresh lemon and just a splash of cola
Fresh lemon juice is what keeps it bright instead of cloying, and the cola is there for colour and a hint of sweetness, not body. Pour it last and stop the moment the glass looks like iced tea.
Treat it with respect
This is roughly the alcohol of three ordinary cocktails in one glass. Sip it slowly, drink water alongside, and count one as a full round. For a lighter night, try a Cuba Libre or a Tom Collins. 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)
- 25 ml (0.75 oz) fresh lemon juice Fresh only — bottled tastes flat and turns the drink sour-sharp instead of bright.
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) simple syrup (1:1), to taste
- Top, about 30 ml (1 oz) cola Just enough to colour it the shade of iced tea, not to make it sweet.
- lemon wedge, to garnish
- ice
Method
Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.
-
Fill a tall highball glass with ice. Add the vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
Why: Building over ice in the serving glass keeps this big drink cold from the first sip; the half-ounce pours keep five spirits in balance instead of a heavy-handed mess.
-
Give it a brief stir to combine and chill, then top with just enough cola to turn it the colour of iced tea.
Why: The cola is colour and a whisper of sweetness, not the body of the drink — pour it last and stop as soon as it looks like tea.
-
Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve with a straw.
Why: A wedge to squeeze in lets the drinker tune the tartness; the straw pulls the layered build back together.
A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.
Variations
- Long Beach
Swap the cola for cranberry juice for a tart pink version — see the Long Beach Iced Tea.
- Tokyo Tea
Use Midori melon liqueur in place of cola for a bright green, fruity build.
- Less boozy
Drop to 10 ml of each spirit and lengthen with more lemon and soda — same flavour, gentler hit.
Serving & Storage
Serve ice-cold in a tall glass with a straw. It's strong — sip it, and treat one as a full round.
Pairs with: Loaded nachos, Buffalo wings, Salty fries, Burgers.
Storage: Make to order. You can pre-batch the five spirits and triple sec in equal parts and keep the bottle in the fridge; add fresh lemon, syrup and cola per glass.
Nutrition
Per serving (1 cocktail (~240 ml))
- Calories
- 220
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
- Sugar
- 16 g
- Sodium
- 10 mg
Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really no tea in it?
None. The name comes purely from the look — cola plus lemon gives the colour and a hint of the flavour of sweet iced tea, but it's five spirits underneath.
Why does it taste smooth if it's so strong?
Lemon, sugar and cola mask the alcohol, which is exactly what makes it sneaky. A properly built one uses half-ounce pours so it's potent but balanced, not harsh.
Can I batch it for a party?
Yes — mix equal parts of the five spirits ahead and refrigerate. Pour about 75 ml of the blend per drink, then add fresh lemon, a little syrup and top with cola to order.
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