The history of the beloved Long Island Iced Tea is one of mixed origins. With one placing the birth of the drink in the early 1970’s by bartenders from the Oak Beach Inn nightclub in Long Island, NY. The drink was invented for a contest sponsored by Triple Sec, a common ingredient in the mixed drink today. There is some speculation that the drink’s origin stretch back much further to the 1920’s. This alternative history places the birth of Long Island Iced Tea to strangely enough to another Long Island but this one in Tennessee. During Prohibition a man by the name of “Old Man Bishop” created a drink that contained whiskey, maple syrup and five other kinds of liquour.. His son Ransom is said to have perfected the concoction.
No matter the origin, however, is one amazing drink for the summer time… and of course it goes great with Taos Twist’s Iced Tea Spoon. Here is a great recipe using fresh mint for a delightful twist on a classic.
Long Island Iced Tea with Fresh Mint for two
• 4 cups ice
• ½ ounce vodka
• ½ ounce gin
• ½ ounce white rum
• ½ ounce silver tequila
• ½ ounce triple sec or Cointreau
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 6 ounces cola
• two tall sprigs of fresh mint
1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon. Add the various spirits desired and combin with the lemon juice. Shake all ingredients until well chilled.
2. Pour ice and “tea” mixture into a tall glass.
3. Add cola, using more if desired to decrease the strength of the drink.
4. Garnish with lemon wedge and sprig of fresh mint.
Hope this stirs up the good times for you!!!