Each day, bars across the country serve up thousands of drinks to patrons, and we all have our favorites. Whether it be your Bloody Mary to start off the morning, or a martini (shaken, not stirred), each drink concoction is unique and, hopefully, tasty. Yet one thing may bar-goers don’t often ask is the history behind the beverage.
That’s why today we’re investigating a personal favorite of mine, the Long Island Ice Tea. The recipe was originally written in Bob Whittaker’s Waikiki “TROPICAL HAWAIIAN DRINK RECIPES” back in the 1970s, although the exact time period the drink was first served up is debatable. Some hail the drink all the way back to the prohibition, while others seem to think it was a T.G.I Fridays original.
One thing that is for sure is where the drink gets its name. The Long Island Iced Tea of course refers to the USA’s largest continental island, Long Island, located in New York. According to several popular drink databases, the Long Island Iced Tea sits among the top 5 of most popular cocktails and is regularly mentioned or seen served in television and films such as The Simpsons, Sex and the City and Cruel Intentions.
To prepare your own Long Island Ice Tea at home, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1/2 oz triple sec
- 1/2 oz light rum
- 1/2 oz gin
- 1/2 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz tequila
- 1 oz sour mix
- cola
- lemon wedge for garnish
The drink is made in 4 easy steps. First, pour the spirits and sour mix into a Collins glass with ice. Next Stir well or shake the drink well. Finally, top the glass off with your favorite cola and garnish with a lemon wedge, and presto! The Long Island Iced Tea is perfect for a hot summers day, so stop waiting around and try one out for yourself!
