On paper, the Long Island Iced Tea is one hot mess of a drink. Four different—and disparate—spirits slugging it out in a single glass, along with triple sec, lemon juice and cola? The recipe reads more like a frat house hazing than one of the world’s most popular cocktails. And yet, somehow, it works.

That’s because the Long Island Iced Tea succeeds where so many of today’s refined cocktails fall short: It’s boozy AF—nearly 75 millilitres of alcohol against less than half that amount in mixers. Unless you’re a sailor on shore leave, that’s a red-flag ratio rife with morning-after consequences. It’s also precisely what a person needs every now and then.

Best then not to intellectualize the Long Island Iced Tea and simply love it for what it is: an easy-gulping, one-and-done stiffy. If you’re looking to tame your tea a bit, pull back the boozy parts and lean in on the cola. The good people of Long Island won’t be offended.

Ingredients

15 ml Vodka

15 ml White rum

15 ml Silver tequila

15 ml Gin

15 ml Triple sec

15 ml Simple syrup (50-50 Water and Sugar)

15 ml Fresh lemon juice

Cola, to top

Garnish: Lemon wedge

Steps

Add all ingredients except the cola into a Collins glass with ice.

Top with a splash of the cola and stir briefly.

Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Serve with a straw.

We would love to hear from you! Write to us at support@barfecto.com to get your article or your recipe featured.

Disclaimer- An unedited version of this recipe first appeared on liquor.com