The ultimate cocktail for a summer party – The Long Island Iced Tea by Victor Ghoshe
[image error]The Long Island Iced Tea – You serve in a pitcher.
Made with tequila, rum, vodka, gin, and triple sec. It packs a real punch!
I always used to think there is tea or iced tea in a in the Long Island Iced Tea. It is simply the color of iced tea. This is critical knowledge to have if you plan to drink one. Or three. Or five, because not knowing this small fact might get you in a whole bunch of trouble.
To me, the Long Island Iced Tea is an ‘inquisitive cocktail’.
Theoretically, it shouldn’t taste all that good considering how many different liquors are being mixed together.
But then again it does!
The triple sec (an orange-flavored liqueur), lemon juice, and cola bind everything just perfectly. This cocktail is an easy one to throw together in a big pitcher for a party. I wait until just before the guests arrive, then mix everything together in a bowl with ice. Strain it into a pitcher and serve!
The step of mixing with the ice helps to quickly chill the drink and adds just the right amount of dilution to the finished cocktail.
Recipe of the Long Island Iced Tea
Time to prepare : 5 minutes
Yield : 8 to 12 cocktails
One can buy prepared simple syrup for this recipe or make it yourself! Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat (1/2 cup of each will make a good amount). Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Cool and refrigerate; it will keep for several weeks.
The Long Island Iced Tea Ingredients
1/2 cup tequila blanco (silver, blanco, or white)
1/2 cup white rum
1/2 cup vodka
1/2 cup gin
1/2 cup triple sec
3/4 cup lemon juice
3/4 cup simple syrup
1 1/2 cups cola soda
Halved lemon slices for garnish
Method:
1 Mix and chill: Fill a large bowl with ice. Add the tequila, rum, vodka, gin, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup and stir until the mixture is well-chilled.
2 Strain the mixture into a pitcher and add the cola. Finish with a quick, short stir.
3 Serve: Pour individual drinks into highball or hurricane glasses filled with ice. Garnish with lemon wedges. Feel free to top off with a splash of cola, if desired. Serve.
My Grandpa told me about two of his favourite Variations of this drink:
Texas Tea: Add 1/2 cup of your favorite bourbon whiskey to the recipe. (Strangely, one would think this would make it a Kentucky Tea?) Best sipped outside while doing absolutely nothing.
Long Beach Tea: Substitute cranberry juice for the cola for a fruitier and more intensely tart version of this cocktail. A novel option for backyard cookouts.
The author is a travel, food and cocktail enthusiast
