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Top Shelf Long Island Iced Tea

A perfectly balanced Long Island Iced Tea made with quality spirits, fresh lemon juice, and proper technique. This sophisticated cocktail is smooth, refreshing, and shows what this classic drink should really taste like when made correctly.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Drinks and Beverages
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 0.5 oz premium vodka
  • 0.5 oz silver rum
  • 0.5 oz gin
  • 0.5 oz silver tequila
  • 0.5 oz triple sec or Cointreau
  • 0.5 oz white rum overproof if available
  • 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice about one lemon
  • 0.5 oz rich simple syrup 2:1 sugar to water ratio
  • 0.25 oz orgeat syrup almond syrup
  • 1 oz cola splash to top the drink
  • Ice cubes large, for serving
  • 1 lemon wheel for garnish

Equipment

  • Cocktail shaker or mixing glass
  • Bar spoon for stirring
  • Jigger for measuring
  • Strainer
  • Tall glass (10 to 12 oz)
  • Citrus juicer
  • Bar muddler
  • Cocktail pick or long bar spoon

Method
 

  1. Fill a tall glass with large ice cubes or one large ice cube if available.
  2. Juice one fresh lemon to get roughly 0.75 oz of juice right before mixing.
  3. Using a jigger, carefully measure 0.5 oz each of vodka, silver rum, gin, silver tequila, triple sec, and white rum.
  4. Pour all six spirits into your cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  5. Add your fresh lemon juice, rich simple syrup, and orgeat syrup to the shaker.
  6. Shake hard for about 10 to 12 seconds until the shaker frosts over and becomes extremely cold.
  7. Using a strainer, pour the mixture into your prepared glass filled with ice.
  8. Add about 1 oz of quality cola to the top of your drink and stir gently with a bar spoon to combine.
  9. Place a fresh lemon wheel on top of the ice as a garnish and serve immediately with a long bar spoon or straw.

Notes

The ratio of 0.5 oz of each spirit is what makes this drink work. Use the best spirits you can afford and always use fresh lemon juice. Make your simple syrup at home with a 2:1 ratio for richer sweetness. This cocktail is strong and meant to be sipped slowly over 20 to 30 minutes.