Long Island Tea

The Long Island Iced Tea contains equal parts vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec, combined with lemon juice and a splash of cola to approximate the look of iced tea. Despite containing five different spirits, the well-balanced citrus and sweetness of the drink masks its high alcohol content. It is shaken with ice and served in a tall glass.

The Long Island Iced Tea is most commonly attributed to Robert Butt, a bartender at the Oak Beach Inn in Hampton Bays, New York, who created it during a 1970s cocktail competition. A rival claim traces it to Kingsport, Tennessee during Prohibition, where a local moonshine concoction was called Long Island Tea, though this version lacked the modern recipe's five-spirit formula. The New York origin story is the most widely accepted.

A Long Island Iced Tea has a deceptively high ABV of approximately 22–28% due to the combination of five spirits, each typically 40% ABV, diluted only slightly by citrus juice and a small splash of cola. Despite tasting smooth and refreshing, a single serving contains the alcohol equivalent of three to four standard drinks. It is known as one of the strongest cocktails served in a typical bar setting.