Long I land Iced Tea Recipe: Ingredient , Variation & Alcohol Content

There’s a moment at every house party when someone asks for “the strongest thing you can make.” The Long Island Iced Tea is usually the answer—a cocktail that looks like iced tea, tastes surprisingly smooth, and packs a punch from five different spirits.

The International Bartenders Association (IBA official cocktail list) recognizes it as a modern classic, and for good reason: it’s deceptively simple to make, yet its 22–24% ABV makes it one of the strongest standard cocktails you’ll find on a menu. This guide gives you the exact recipe in both US and UK measurements, explains the alcohol content, and walks through the four most popular variations so you can make the perfect version every time.

Alcohol by volume (ABV): 22–24% (typical) ·
Calories per serving: ~280 kcal ·
Number of spirits: 5 (vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec) ·
IBA classification: Modern Classic ·
Origin: Long Island, New York

For more classic recipes, try our Mary Berry Christmas Cake Recipe and Pork Shoulder Steak Recipes.

Key facts about the Long Island Iced Tea.

What are the ingredients of a Long Island Iced Tea?

The five-spirit formula is what gives this cocktail its unique character. The IBA (International Bartenders Association) standard recipe calls for equal parts vodka, gin, white rum, tequila, and Cointreau (or triple sec), balanced with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, then topped with a splash of cola. The drink’s amber colour—not actual tea—is what gives it the iced tea name.

IBA standard recipe

• 15 ml vodka (e.g., Smirnoff or Absolut)
• 15 ml gin (e.g., Beefeater or Tanqueray)
• 15 ml white rum (e.g., Bacardi)
• 15 ml tequila (e.g., José Cuervo silver)
• 15 ml Cointreau or triple sec
• 25 ml fresh lemon juice
• 30 ml simple syrup (1:1 sugar and water)
• Cola (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or your preferred brand) to top (~30–60 ml depending on glass size)

The IBA specifies that these five spirits should be shaken with ice, then strained into a highball glass filled with fresh ice before topping with cola and a gentle stir (IBA preparation instructions).

The catch: the IBA version uses 15 ml pours, which means 75 ml total of spirits—about 2.5 US fluid ounces. That’s a significant amount of alcohol for a single serving, which explains why the drink has its reputation for potency.

The IBA recipe ensures consistency across bars, but home bartenders can adjust ratios to taste.

Common substitutions

Many home versions swap Cointreau for triple sec (which is cheaper and less sweet) and replace fresh lemon juice and simple syrup with a pre-made sour mix. According to the European Bartender School, a sour-mix-based version uses just 10 ml of simple syrup alongside 20 ml of each spirit and fresh lemon juice. Some bartenders also substitute the cola for a cheaper supermarket brand, though the caramel notes of Coca-Cola are widely preferred. The trade-off: sour mix adds preservatives and artificial flavours, so fresh ingredients produce a noticeably cleaner taste.

How many shots of alcohol are in a Long Island Iced Tea?

This is the question most people ask before ordering one. A standard Long Island Iced Tea contains the equivalent of about 1.5 standard US shots of 80-proof spirits. Here’s how the math works out.

Standard pour sizes

Using the IBA recipe’s 15 ml per spirit, the five spirits total 75 ml of 40% ABV alcohol. A standard US shot is 44 ml (1.5 oz), so 75 ml ÷ 44 ml = approximately 1.7 shot equivalents. In UK terms, a standard 25 ml measure of spirit would mean this drink contains three UK singles—but since you’re mixing five different spirits, each at 15 ml, the total ethanol content is what matters. According to the European Bartender School’s recipe, the total alcohol by volume after dilution and cola addition lands between 22% and 24% ABV.

Total alcohol units

• Five spirits × 15 ml each = 75 ml total spirits
• Each spirit at 40% ABV contributes 30 ml of pure alcohol total
• 30 ml pure alcohol = ~2.4 UK alcohol units
• Compare: a standard pint of beer is 2–3 UK units

The implication: one Long Island Iced Tea contains about the same ethanol as 1.5 bottles of 5% ABV lager or 2.5 glasses of wine. For UK drinkers following the Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk guidelines of no more than 14 units per week, this single drink accounts for roughly one-sixth of your weekly allowance (alcohol unit comparison).

Is a Long Island Iced Tea the strongest drink?

The short answer is no, but it’s high enough to catch many drinkers off guard. At 22–24% ABV, it sits well above most cocktails but below a few notorious contenders.

ABV comparison with other cocktails

The pattern: the Long Island Iced Tea is stronger than most fruity cocktails (Mojitos, Piña Coladas, Margaritas) but weaker than layered shooters or straight spirits. What makes it dangerous is the cola—the sweetness masks the alcohol, making it easy to drink quickly.

Rosebud’s cocktail video demonstrates the classic method of shaking for 12–15 seconds and straining over fresh ice, which achieves proper dilution without over-diluting. The iced tea colour is deceiving: it looks like a harmless soft drink but delivers roughly the same alcohol content as a glass of wine in a single small highball.

Factors affecting strength

• Ice dilution: shaking with ice then straining over fresh ice reduces water ingress
• Cola ratio: a splash (as intended) keeps ABV high; filling the glass with cola dilutes significantly
• Spirit brand: most vodkas and gins are 40% ABV, but some (e.g., Wild Turkey 101) are higher
• Pour size: using 20 ml per spirit instead of 15 ml pushes ABV toward 28–30%

Knowing your pour size is key to controlling the drink’s potency.

What are the 4 types of Long Island Iced Tea?

The classic recipe is just the starting point. Four widely recognised variations swap the cola for different mixers or add flavoured liqueurs, creating entirely different tasting experiences beyond the original that’s just a splash of cola away from iced tea imitation.

Classic Long Island Iced Tea

The original: five spirits + lemon + simple syrup + cola. Amber colour, sweet-sour profile with a cola finish. The IBA standard recipe described above is the benchmark.

Tokyo Iced Tea

Substitute the cola with Midori (melon liqueur) and lemonade or soda water. The drink turns bright green and tastes like a melon candy, but keeps the same spirit base (A Labour of Life variation summary).

Long Beach Iced Tea

Replace cola with cranberry juice. The result is a reddish-pink cocktail with a tart, fruity edge that cuts through the spirit blend differently. Cranberry’s acidity pairs well with the triple sec and lemon.

Hawaiian Iced Tea

Swap cola for pineapple juice. This version is sweeter and tropical, closer to a Piña Colada in character but with the five-spirit punch. Some recipes add a dash of cream of coconut to enhance the island profile.

The pattern: each variation swaps exactly one non-alcoholic ingredient, creating a different flavour family—melon (Tokyo), berry (Long Beach), tropical (Hawaiian). The Wikipedia article on the drink notes that bartenders also make Texas Iced Tea (with bourbon replacing one spirit) and Electric Iced Tea (using an energy drink like Mountain Dew instead of cola).

How to make Long Island Iced Tea in the UK?

For UK readers, the IBA’s metric recipe is the most natural fit—no ounces to convert. The European Bartender School provides a clean metric version that’s ready to use in British kitchens.

Metric measurements for UK readers

• 15 ml vodka
• 15 ml gin
• 15 ml white rum
• 15 ml tequila
• 15 ml Cointreau or triple sec
• 25 ml fresh lemon juice
• 30 ml simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)
• Cola (Coca-Cola or preferred brand) to top

Measure each spirit using a jigger or measuring spoon. The total spirits volume is 75 ml—just over three UK standard 25 ml measures.

Step-by-step mixing instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes (about 8–10 cubes).
2. Pour in the vodka, gin, white rum, tequila, and Cointreau.
3. Add the fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
4. Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds—enough to chill and dilute properly (shaking technique from Rosebud’s).
5. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
6. Top with cola—about 30–60 ml, enough to give the drink its iced tea colour without overwhelming the spirits.
7. Stir gently once or twice to combine.
8. Garnish with a lemon wheel or wedge (IBA garnish recommendation).

For a non-alcoholic version, combine 75 ml brewed black tea with 25 ml lemon juice, 30 ml simple syrup, and a splash of cola. Shake with ice and serve the same way. You’ll get the same visual effect with zero alcohol.

The International Bartenders Association defines the Long Island Iced Tea as a Modern Classic cocktail. Its official recipe—using equal parts of five spirits, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and a splash of cola—remains the global benchmark against which all variations are measured.

The European Bartender School notes that while many modern recipes call for sour mix as a shortcut, the fresher combination of lemon juice and simple syrup produces a cleaner, more balanced drink that lets the five spirits shine through.

For UK home bartenders, the choice is clear: use the IBA’s 15 ml metric spec, shake 15 seconds, and top with just enough cola to turn the drink amber. That gives you the authentic Long Island Iced Tea—strong, balanced, and nothing like actual iced tea—every single time.

Frequently asked questions