Long Island Iced Tea: Ingredients, Recipe, Alcohol Content

Few cocktails manage to look as innocent as a glass of iced tea while packing enough alcohol to rival a bottle of wine. The Long Island Iced Tea is a deceptive mix of five spirits, citrus, and cola that has intrigued drinkers since the 1970s.

Alcohol by volume (ABV): 22–25% ·
Number of spirits: 5 ·
Calories per serving: ~280 ·
Year created: 1970s ·
Official IBA classification: IBA cocktail

Six key details define the Long Island Iced Tea`s character:

What is a Long Island Iced Tea made of?

• Spirits: 15 ml each of vodka, tequila, white rum, gin, and Cointreau (or triple sec) (IBA World (official cocktail body))
• Citrus: 25 ml fresh lemon juice
• Sweetener: 30 ml simple syrup
• Cola: a splash to top (gives tea-like color)

Role of cola

Common substitutions

• Cointreau can be replaced with triple sec or other orange liqueur (Allrecipes (recipe database))
• Some recipes use sweet‑and‑sour mix instead of lemon juice and simple syrup
• NYT Cooking adds maple syrup, lime juice, and salt for a more complex flavor (NYT Cooking (editorial recipe))

The implication: the base template is fixed, but the citrus–sweetener ratio is where recipes truly diverge.

What`s in a Long Island Iced Tea in the UK?

• European Bartender School recipe: 20 ml each of vodka, light rum, gin, tequila, Cointreau; 20 ml lemon juice; 10 ml sugar syrup; top with Coca‑Cola (European Bartender School (bartending academy))
• BrewDog`s canned Wonderland Long Island Iced Tea: 10% ABV, 200 ml — a lower‑alcohol convenience option (BrewDog UK (craft brewer))

Measurements in ml

Three recipe formats, one pattern: UK measurements often shift the balance.

Similarity to standard recipe

• UK versions typically mirror the American recipe, though some bartenders skip the simple syrup to reduce sweetness

What this means: UK consumers can expect the same strength and flavor profile, with occasional adaptations for local tastes.

How alcoholic is Long Island Iced Tea?

• Difford`s Guide calculates the IBA recipe at 11.56% ABV and 19.8 grams of pure alcohol per serving (Difford`s Guide (cocktail encyclopedia))
• Wikipedia reports a typical 22% ABV, reflecting a stronger estimate that may assume less dilution (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

Comparison to beer and wine

• Standard beer: 4–5% ABV
• Table wine: 11–14% ABV
• Long Island Iced Tea (IBA recipe): 11.56% ABV per the calculator, but with five spirits it can reach 22% ABV depending on pour and dilution

Factors affecting strength

• Pour size: even 5 ml extra per spirit adds significant alcohol
• Ice dilution: more ice melt lowers ABV but increases volume
• Cola ratio: a heavier splash further dilutes the drink

The trade‑off: the more ice melt, the weaker the drink — but the standard recipe is potent enough to affect judgement quickly.

Why is it called Long Island Iced Tea?

• The cocktail was invented in the 1970s in Long Island, New York, though the exact bar and bartender are disputed (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

The name “Iced Tea” – no actual tea

• The drink contains no tea; the cola gives it the appearance of iced tea

Long Island location

• Multiple origin stories tie the drink to Long Island, New York, but none have been definitively proven

The pattern: the name is a clever marketing trick — it looks like iced tea but isn`t, and that contrast is precisely what made it famous.

How to make a Long Island Iced Tea?

According to the IBA method (IBA World (official cocktail body)):

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add 15 ml each of vodka, tequila, white rum, gin, and Cointreau.
3. Add 25 ml fresh lemon juice and 30 ml simple syrup.
4. Stir gently to combine.
5. Top with a splash of cola.
6. Garnish with a lemon wheel (optional).

Tips for the perfect pour

• Use a jigger for precise measurements — free‑pouring is risky with five spirits
• Chill the glass beforehand to slow dilution
• Stir, don`t shake, to preserve the cola`‑s carbonation

Recommended glassware

• A highball, Collins, or hurricane glass works best (Allrecipes (recipe database))

The catch: the line between perfectly balanced and overpowering is thin — measure each spirit precisely.

Recipe comparison: How the numbers stack up

Five recipe formats, one pattern: the amount of alcohol varies dramatically depending on pour size.

The pattern: recipes with larger spirit pours yield higher ABV and calorie counts.

What we know and what we don`t

Confirmed facts

• IBA recipe uses 15 ml each of vodka, tequila, white rum, gin, Cointreau; 25 ml lemon juice; 30 ml simple syrup; cola to top (IBA World (official cocktail body))
• Invention in the 1970s (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

What remains unclear

• Exact inventor is disputed; multiple claims exist
• The original name‑origin anecdote may be apocryphal
• Whether the cocktail was first served at the Oak Beach Inn or another bar is unverified

The pattern: while the basic recipe is well-established, the exact historical details remain elusive.

Expert perspectives

Long Island Iced Tea is an IBA official cocktail.

— IBA World (official cocktail body)

The drink is strong because it combines five spirits that are normally around 40% ABV.

— Craft Gin Club (cocktail enthusiast blog)

What this means: authoritative sources confirm the cocktail’s official status and its potent nature.

For those wanting to explore the drink’s potency further, various Long Island Iced Tea recipe variations exist that adjust the spirit ratios and garnishes.

Frequently asked questions

The key takeaway for consumers: one Long Island Iced Tea can contain more alcohol than two glasses of wine, so moderation is advised.

Related reading

• Easy Banana Cake Recipe
• How to Reduce Sugar in Your Diet