A Long Island iced tea is a type of alcoholic mixed drink typically made with vodka, tequila, light rum, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola.
TonicDB editorial guide
A Long Island Iced Tea contains several full-strength spirits, but careful half-ounce measures keep them from fighting one another. Lemon and orange liqueur provide the sour structure, while a small cola float adds color and the familiar iced-tea impression.
Measure every spirit into an ice-filled tall glass, add the lemon juice, and stir before topping with cola. Adding the carbonated mixer last preserves its fizz and lets you control the color without turning the drink into a large glass of soda.
Use a tall glass with plenty of hard ice and a simple lemon garnish. This is a strong single serving despite its easy-drinking appearance, so serve it slowly and avoid treating the tall format as permission for a double recipe.
Free-pouring five base spirits can push the drink far beyond its intended strength. Too much cola then hides that alcohol without correcting the balance. Keep each spirit to the listed half ounce and use cola as a finishing splash.
If the fresh lemon makes the mixture too sharp, add a quarter ounce of simple syrup rather than more cola. For a longer, less sweet presentation, add a small splash of chilled soda water alongside the cola while keeping the measured base unchanged.
These notes explain how to execute and adapt the recipe shown above. Ingredients and serving traditions vary, so taste and adjust thoughtfully.
Contributed by @alfg