Everything You Need To Know About Long Island Iced Tea

You've probably had one or two Long Island iced teas in your day, but don't get too comfortable! In order to be a Long Island iced tea expert, you have to know absolutely everything about this high-alcohol classic.

There's a lot to know about Long Island iced tea. For starters, do you know this potent drink's origin? We bring this up because there is a little dispute behind who actually invented this deadly cocktail.

Sources say the Long Island iced tea traces its origins back to two people who both claim to have invented the beverage, one in the 1920s and one in the 1970s.

A slightly different drink that bears similarities to the Long Island iced tea we know and love is said to have been invented in the 1920s — during Prohibition — by an "Old Man Bishop" in a community called Long Island in Kingsport, Tennessee. The drink was perfected by Ransom Bishop, Old Man Bishop's son. This drink included whiskey and maple syrup, while the modern version contains cola and four different liquors.

Robert "Rosebud" Butt claims he invented the drink in Long Island, New York, when he participated in a contest to create a new mixed drink in 1972. Some say the drink was alluded to in literature in as early as the 1920s; others say it is a relatively new cocktail. Will we ever know?

Now that you've brushed up on the gossip behind its origin, you're probably wondering why the creators are so eager to defend their titles. Maybe it's because the combination of liquors is tasty, but deadly. Have you ever looked into what's in it? Long Island iced tea contains vodka, rum, gin, and Combier. We've gone so far as to say that it will get you tipsy in two sips.

Drinking a Long Island iced tea is not the only way to enjoy its flavor. We've found a jelly shot recipe that will take your summer party to the next level. To create these mini treats, all you need to do is combine Diet Coke and lemon syrup in a medium saucepan and sprinkle with gelatin mix. Click here for the exact measurements for Long Island Iced Tea Jelly Shots.  

Have we still not persuaded you to try a Long Island iced tea? If not, there's one final thing that we feel like you just have to know: It's one of Beyoncé's favorite drinks.