A competitive start
The Long Island Iced Tea cocktail is claimed to have been the creation of a competition entry said to have taken place in 1972, New York. The challenge was to create a mixed drink made with triple sec.
However, there are two competing origin stories; one hailing from Long Island, Tennessee and one from Long Island, New York. Robert Butt claims to have invented the Long Island Iced Tea while working at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, New York.
Served on the rocks with a combination of different spirits, triple sec and a splash of cola as a mix, it produces a much higher alcohol content than most highball drinks. The cocktail has been criticised for its large number of ingredients, making it cumbersome to prepare in busy bars. So, what exactly goes into a long island iced tea?
What goes into a Long Island Iced Tea?
A Long Island Iced Tea is typically made with vodka, tequila, light rum, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola, which gives the drink the same amber hue as iced tea (hence the reference).
The cocktail has a much higher alcohol concentration (approximately 22%) than most highball drinks due to the relatively small amount of mixer and can be served in different quantities.
A standard size drink can be anything from 250 ml (8.3 Oz) to 360 ml (12 Oz), while larger servings can be up to 480 ml (16 Oz). Taken at an average of 250 ml the cocktail can easily contain 20.5 grams of alcohol.