Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail Recipe By Chef Team ZZ

About LIIT

The origin of LIIT has two conflicting claims competing for the creation. One of which is from a bartender named Robert Butt, who worked at the Oak Beach Inn in Long Island. According to him, he invented the drink in 1972 as part of a competition that required triple sec. He mixed tequila, vodka, gin, rum, triple sec, and a splash of coke to create the drink. Although no concrete evidence exists, the beverage quickly became popular with the masses.

However, a strikingly similar cocktail had already emerged during the '20s, when prohibition was in full swing. That drink was reportedly created by an illegal distiller known as Charlie ‘Old Man’ Bishop in Kingsport, Tennessee, a community that was also often referred to as Long Island. His son, Ramson bishop, added cola, lemon and lime to the recipe, although it still didn’t contain triple sec.

Variations

1. Tennessee Iced tea: If you fancy whiskey, this one’s for you. Replace gin with Tennessee whiskey and leave out the tequila for that earthy twist.
2. Tropical LIIT: Nothing says tropical as much as adding just a bit of pineapple juice to the mix. It does make the cocktail just a bit sweeter though.
3. Spicy LIIT: If you like it hot however, you could experiment with adding a few dashes of hot sauce or a slice of jalapeño for that spicy kick.
4. Fruity LIIT: For a sweet fruity twist, muddle some fresh strawberries in the cocktail shaker before adding the other ingredients. You could also use peach schnapps as a tangy refreshing addition.
5. Mint LIIT: For a subtle but herby refreshing flavour, you could muddle a few mint leaves in the cocktail shaker before adding the other ingredients.

Pro Tips

1. For a sweeter drink, you could either add fresh juices or 5-10ml of sugar syrup to the mix.
2. To avoid diluting the drink, use rather large ice cubes as they take longer to melt.
3. If you’re feeling fancy, you can switch the cola with other aerated drinks. This however will alter the taste just a tad bit. Remember it’s merely the mixing agent, not the base.
4. LIIT is a strong cocktail by design as it mixes a variety of liqueurs. Make sure you’re cognizant of the ratios or it can easily become an overpowering mix.

Recap

Directions

1. Fill the glass with ice cubes
2. Pour 10ml lime juice
3. Pour 15ml of vodka
4. Pour 15ml of gin
5. Pour 15ml of tequila
6. Pour 15ml of triple sec
7. Pour 15ml of white rum
8. Add more ice till the top of the glass
9. Pour cola till the top
10. Mildly stir it
11. Garnish with a lemon slice