Long Island Iced Tea - Cocktail #5

Long Island Iced Tea, oil on panel, 15 in. x 10 in., SOLD

Birth date: 1972

Origin: Robert “Rosebud” Butt (Oak Beach Inn, Long Island, NY)

Gary Regan, author of The Bartender’s Bible, instructs the drinker of the Long Island Iced Tea to “Sip this drink over a long period of time - two days isn't out of the question.” While mixing one up to paint I had a few sips and thought, "How in the hell do four different shots of alcohol, lemon juice, sugar, and cola combine to make a dead on match to slightly sweetened iced tea? Who is the genius that invented this? Why did I decide to drink one before painting? What day is it? Whew!

Bob Butt - Inventor of the Long Island Iced Tea

Recipe:

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Light Rum
• 1 oz. Tequila
• 1 oz. Lemon Juice
• 1 teaspoon Superfine Sugar
• 4 oz. Cola
• Lemon Slice
• Cocktail Umbrella (optional)

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine the vodka, gin, rum, tequila, lemon juice, and sugar. Shake well and strain into a Collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Add the cola and stir well. Garnish with lemon slice and cocktail umbrella if you’re feeling frisky.