The Hawaiian Iced Tea Gives Its Long Island Cousin A Tropical Twist

The Long Island Iced Tea reigns supreme as a legendary cocktail, but have you ever wanted a tropical twist on this familiar favorite? A lesser-known but equally delightful variation, the Hawaiian iced tea, brings a refreshing touch of the islands to this beloved drink. This vibrant cocktail ditches the combination of multiple high-proof spirits for a lighter and more flavorful profile. 

The Long Island Iced Tea is known for its potent mix of spirits. Despite its name, this drink contains no actual tea but combines vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, sour mix, and a splash of cola for color and flavor. It's a drink renowned for its powerful yet surprisingly balanced taste. While there are plenty of ways to upgrade the original, contrasting its Long Island cousin, the Hawaiian iced tea introduces a unique twist that's hard to resist. Instead of the traditional cola, this cocktail opts for pineapple juice as the base, lending a sweeter, fruitier profile. This easy switch amplifies a smoother, more rounded flavor, making it an ideal choice for beach gatherings and summer celebrations.

Creating your own Hawaiian iced tea at home is easy. Simply combine equal parts vodka, rum, tequila, gin, lemon and lime juice, and simple syrup in shaker filled with ice and add a few splashes of pineapple juice. Give the mixture a good shake, then strain into a tall glass filled with ice (we like a Collins glass for this particular recipe). So, why does this specific combination work? The pineapple juice brings out the fruity notes of the spirits, creating a cocktail that's easy to drink, sweet, and refreshing. 

And you can add a few more touches to take your drink up a notch. A splash of grenadine will sink to the bottom of the glass, creating a beautiful layered effect. For a perfect tropical flourish, we like a small pour of orange juice on top of the mixture to help balance all the flavors. For an extra touch of the tropics, garnish your Hawaiian iced tea with a pineapple wedge, a maraschino cherry, a slice of lemon, or a sprig of mint leaves.

So, the next time you seek a refreshing escape, ditch the expensive plane ticket and whip up a Hawaiian iced tea. It's a guaranteed mood booster that will transport you to an island paradise, one sip at a time. While the Long Island Iced Tea reigns supreme as a time-tested favorite, its Hawaiian counterpart brings a touch of tropical paradise to your glass, making it a must-try for cocktail enthusiasts.