What Makes Long Island Iced Tea And Texas Tea Different?

Ah, the Long Island Iced Tea. A staple of college bars and the partying set, it's a potent drink that packs a punch — and no wonder, with its mix of five different alcohols (gin, light rum, tequila, triple sec, and vodka), a little sour mix, and a splash of cola to make it look like iced tea (without any actual tea) and to mask the taste of all that alcohol. It's the drink order that sends up a red flag to many bartenders. It's also a drink that can be easily customized to different tastes by swapping out one or more of its many ingredients, like using peach schnapps and lemon-lime soda instead of tequila and cola for a Miami Iced Tea, or cranberry juice instead of cola for a Long Beach Iced Tea.

And there's one variation to the Long Island Iced Tea that actually adds another liquor to the already heady mix, believe it or not, and that's the Texas Tea (which, actually, is believable in keeping with the everything is bigger in Texas mentality). That extra addition? A little bit of all-American bourbon.

To make the Texas Tea (or Texas Iced Tea), simply add the same proportion of your choice of bourbon as all the other alcohol. The Spruce Eats recommends using ½ ounce of each alcohol before topping with an ounce of sour mix and an ounce or two of cola, while Difford's suggests using ⅓ ounce of everything (including lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup) and 2 ½ ounce of cola. Whether you prefer to add ice first to a Collins glass before adding all the other ingredients and stirring, or mixing everything up in a shaker first is up to you. The key thing to keep in mind is the proportion of everything, which you shouldn't try to eyeball.

To upgrade your Texas Tea, try using higher-end liquors for everything. The type of bourbon you use will also make a difference. For a spicier kick, try using rye instead. You can also try making your own sour mix instead of using the premade kind — one option is to use fresh lemon juice and simple syrup or honey. And consider using craft colas to bring a more refined taste to a tasty cocktail that packs a Texas-sized punch.