I recently went on a mission to find Long Island's best iced tea recipe. Although it doesn't surprise me to see that vodka, gin, rum, and tequila have always played a role, I've uncovered some hidden secrets about the origins of this popular drink concoction.
Like many other famous cocktails, it has a swoon-worthy ingredient or two. While researching Long Island iced tea, I discovered the one ingredient that forever changed the way I made the drink.
I'm now convinced that the original Long Island iced tea recipe is superior to anything I've ever tried—and lucky for you, it's also incredibly easy to make.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about Long Island iced tea, and if you're interested in more recipes, check out the best Irish coffees or different ways to brew coffee the old-fashioned way.
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The True History of Long Island Iced Tea
The colorful history behind this mixed batch of liquor is just as interesting as the drink itself. The original Long Island iced tea recipe came from Long Island, but it's probably not the Long Island you're thinking of.
If you visited now, you'd find ballparks and industrial parks on Long Island in Kingsport, TN. But in the 1920s the area was known for something else. Lara Potter of Visit Kingsport told me that during Prohibition, Long Island was an enclave known as a bootlegger hotspot. If you wanted your drink fix that was the place to get it.
Long Island was separated from the mainland by the Holston River, making it the perfect place for illegal enterprises. Rumor has it that when the bootleggers heard that the police were coming, they threw the bottles into the river to hide them. Once the coast was clear, locals flocked to the river to retrieve them.
Although bootleggers abound on Long Island, one man stands out from the rest: Charlie Bishop, also known as Old Man Bishop. After moving to the area from Virginia, he realized he wasn't a very good farmer. Fortunately, he was much better at creating special beers. He is remembered as a down-on-his-luck, larger-than-life guy who was always trying different techniques and trying to improve his craft.
Family members recall that at one point he tried growing mulberry trees and thought he would get rich by making mulberry wine. But ultimately his real legacy was mixing 5 different liqueurs with another special ingredient to create the original recipe for Long Island iced tea.
Let's fast forward a few years and go to the 1940s. Bishop's son Ransom decided to continue the family tradition. Known as a local troublemaker, he was a mischievous character in his own right. Once, when he wasn't serving time behind bars, he took his father's recipe for Long Island iced tea and put his own spin on it. He added lemon, lime and cola. While Old Man Bishop's recipe is good, Ransom's additions to this powerful drink created the perfect flavor combination that further enhances the original Long Island iced tea recipe.
The town of Kingsport fully embraces its intoxicating past; A mural downtown lets you know you're in the true home of the original Long Island Iced Tea. Local businesses are also joining in on the fun, offering delectable treats like Long Island iced tea truffles, which can be found at Bellafina Chocolates. Owner Jes Williams says it's consistently one of her best sellers, and with 5 hard liquors covered in white chocolate, I can see why.
Long Island, NY also has its own recipe for Long Island iced tea, which originated in the 1970s. There's a friendly rivalry between the two counties over who gets bragging rights, but a look at historical timelines shows that Old Man Bishop's recipe is indeed the original recipe for Long Island iced tea.
Is the original version the best? The Long Islands held a blind taste test in their respective districts, but each won on their home turf. When they took their experiment to Maryland for a final taste test on neutral ground, Kingsport took the title of Long Island's best iced tea recipe.
The Secret Ingredient Every Long Island Iced Tea Needs
Surprisingly, none of the recipes for Long Island Iced Tea actually include tea as an ingredient. The recipes include a liqueur combination of everything in your liquor cabinet. When you look at the actual recipe, you may wonder how drinkable it is. But somehow the combination of these powerful spirits work together so deliciously.
However, there is a secret ingredient that Old Man Bishop uses that sets his original Long Island Iced Tea recipe apart: maple syrup.
I was a little skeptical at first about the inclusion of maple syrup. Of course, I love my pancakes as much as the next person, but I wasn't sure I wanted this flavor at Happy Hour. Since this was included in the original Long Island iced tea recipe, I decided to give it a try.
I tried to keep an open mind as I poured the sugar into the glass. After all, this is how Long Island Iced Tea was originally intended to be consumed in the 1920s when it was created. After taking a sip, I understood why. It was the best Long Island iced tea I've ever tried.
Additionally, while many recipes for Long Island iced tea call for shaking and stirring, locals in Kingsport will tell you that stirring is the only way. And you'll never catch them making their claim to fame with anything other than a tall glass.
Original Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
Brandy Hastings
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Portion: 1
Surrender: 1 drink
Contents
- 4 ounces of cola
- juice of ½ lemon
- juice of ½ lemon
- 1 ounce whiskey
- ½ ounce maple syrup
- ½ ounce tequila
- ½ ounce gin
- ½ ounce rum
- 1 ounce vodka
Directions
- Gather all your materials.
- Take a tall glass and pour half a lemon and the squeezed juice of half a lemon.
- Throw in some ice and then add whiskey, tequila, gin, rum, vodka and maple syrup.
- Mix the ingredients and pour cola over it.
- Garnish with lemon and/or lime and enjoy!
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