Origin & Characteristics:

Let’s be honest — the Long Island Iced Tea is the cocktail equivalent of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Despite the name, there’s no actual tea. What you get instead is a five-liquor power move disguised as a chilled, citrusy drink that looks innocent... until it isn’t.

Created in the 1970s, most credit goes to bartender Robert "Rosebud" Butt, who claims he mixed it up during a contest at the Oak Beach Inn in Long Island, New York. The goal? Make a drink using triple sec. The result? A cocktail with vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec — balanced with lemon and cola so it sips smooth but hits hard.

A New Twist: Long Island with Popping Boba

Now imagine that cocktail — bold, cold, and deceptively smooth — topped off with popping boba. Yup. We’re taking that boozy classic and giving it a textural twist. Those juicy pearls burst with citrus or cola flavor and add a playful pop to every sip. It’s chaos in a glass… in the best possible way.

 

Ingredients:

  • ½ fluid ounce vodka
  • ½ fluid ounce rum
  • ½ fluid ounce gin
  • ½ fluid ounce tequila
  • ½ fluid ounce triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
  • 1 fluid ounce sweet and sour mix
  • 1 fluid ounce cola, or to taste
  • 1 lemon slice
  • Ice
  • 2-3 tbsp of lemon popping boba

Directions:

 

STEP 1

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, and sour mix over ice; cover and shake well.

STEP 2

Pour cocktail into a Collins or hurricane glass; top with splash of cola for color.

STEP 3 

Garnish with a slice of lemon and a few mint leaves. Enjoy!

STEP 4 
To Finish

Add popping boba into glass & serve

Ingridents & Directions