Ivan Della Nave
The Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea
Gin: 1/2 OZ (15 ml)
Dry Vodka: 1/2 OZ (15 ml)
White rum: 1/2 OZ (15 ml)
Triple sec: 1/2 OZ (15 ml)
Tequila: 1/2 OZ (15 ml) White Tequila
Lemon juice: 3/4 OZ Freshly Squeezed
Sugar syrup: 3/4 OZ
Egg whites: 1/2 OZ
Coca-Cola: to top
Garnish
Slice of lemon
Glass
Tall tumbler
Equipment
Shaker – jigger – manual citrus juicer - dry scoop - fruit tweezers
Method
Mix on the rocks
Cool the shaker by filling it up to 3/4 full with ice. Empty before pouring the ingredients in.
Using the manual pressure juicer, squeeze 3/4 OZ (45 ml) of lime directly into the jigger (to check the exact amount of juice) and pour into the shaker.
Measure 3/4 OZ (45 ml) of cane sugar syrup with the jigger and pour into the shaker.
Measure 3/4 OZ (45 ml) of egg white with the jigger and pour into the shaker.
Measure 1/2 OZ (15 ml) of dry vodka with the jigger and pour into the shaker.
Dose the jigger with 1/2 OZ (15 ml) of triple sec and pour into the shaker.
Measure 1/2 OZ (15 ml) of gin with the jigger and pour into the shaker.
Measure 1/2 OZ (15 ml) of white tequila with the jigger and pour into the shaker.
Measure 1/2 OZ (15 ml) of white rum with the jigger and pour into the shaker.
Close the shaker and shake vigorously, the egg white must whip.
Fill the glass with ice.
Open the shaker and pour the cocktail into the glass.
Top the glass with cola.
Garnish the cocktail with a fresh lemon slice and it's ready to serve.
History
In the 1970s, Bob Butt, a young Long Island bartender who worked at the Oak Beach Bar decided to participate in a triple sec competition. He chose all the white spirits he had (rum, vodka, gin and tequila) as ingredients, he then added triple sec, lemon juice, sugar and Coca Cola, to give the cocktail a touch of colour. The result was that tea-coloured drink which was called 'Long Island iced tea'.
Variants
There are several variations of this cocktail, for example, Tokyo iced tea, in which the triple sec is replaced by Midori and Coca Cola with Lemonade. In Beverly Hills iced tea, Coca Cola is replaced with Champagne, in California iced tea it is replaced with orange juice, and in Long Beach iced tea, with cranberry juice.
Curiosity
Legend has it that Long Island iced tea was born in the 1930s, during years of prohibition, and that it was a blend of clandestine spirits that, thanks to the colour given by the cola, were disguised as innocent tea.
