Texas Iced Tea

What is Texas Iced Tea?

The Texas Iced Tea is a variation of the Long Island Iced Tea, the legendary multi-spirit cocktail popularised in the 1970s by Robert "Rosebud" Butt at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, New York. The Texas version takes the original formula of vodka, gin, tequila, white rum, and triple sec with citrus and cola, and adds bourbon whiskey as the sixth spirit, transforming the drink's character considerably. The bourbon addition is the single difference between the two cocktails and the entire reason the Texas Iced Tea exists as a distinct drink: it deepens the flavour profile with American oak warmth and vanilla character, gives the cola float a more substantial mid-palate to support, and increases the alcohol content noticeably even further beyond the already significant strength of the original. The Texas naming convention reflects the drink's broader American expansion through the 1980s and 1990s, when bartenders across the country began creating regional variations of the Long Island formula, including the Long Beach Iced Tea (cranberry juice instead of cola), the Adios Motherfucker (blue curaçao and lemon-lime soda instead of triple sec and cola), and the Hawaiian Iced Tea (pineapple juice instead of cola). The Texas Iced Tea remains one of the most ordered Long Island variations in American bars and one of the most consistently searched multi-spirit cocktails online.

If you enjoy layered, high-proof cocktails with surprising balance, this one deserves a spot on your home bar menu. The citrus cuts through the intensity, while the whiskey adds depth that feels almost smoky and comforting. It’s a conversation starter, a slow sipper if you’re wise, and a crowd-pleaser if you’re feeling brave.

Don't forget to see what other drinks you can make with the ingredients you already have in your bar.

Why You'll Love It?

Ingredients for Texas Iced Tea

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Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. In a a highball glass with about three-quarters of ice pour vodka, white rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec.
2. Add fresh lemon and lime juice, simple syrup and sour mix.
3. Add a splash of cola to the top of the drink for color, sweetness, and depth.
4. Use a bar spoon to stir all ingredients together for 10-15 seconds, ensuring even mixing and proper chilling.
5. Place a lemon wheel or lime slice on the rim or float it in the drink for visual appeal and aromatics.