Cocktail Hour

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by Iggy

SteveDallas, I love long island iced teas, but haven't the foggiest idea how to make them. How do you make them?

Here's the recipe I usually get out, cribbed from "The Ultimate Book of Cocktails".

white rum
vodka
gin
silver tequila
Cointreau
sugar syrup
--> 1/2 measure or 2 tsp. of all of the above

juice of 1/2 a lemon


Stir all these well with ice for about 30 seconds in a pitcher to chill. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes and a twist of lemon. Add chilled cola (4 measures/6 Tbsp) and finish with a sprig of fresh mint.


Now I tend to not have fresh mint lying around, nor a lemon twist--sorry, but my home bartending is very informal. I also tend to just dump everything in a cocktail shaker rather than digging out a pitcher.

I also omit the sugar syrup--you're going to be putting cola in!! I guess if you want something really sweet, go for it.

I've also seen varying combinations of ingredients in other recipes. I don't think it matters a whole lot--I mean, you don't have Cointreau handy? Just forget it & maybe add a bit extra of the other stuff. I think the most important bit is to mix some different liquors together so no one taste predominates.

And just maybe, after 2 or 3 sips it doesn't matter so much any more.