Ingredients
- 5 ounces simple syrup
- 5 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- 5 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5 ounces orange liqueur
Instructions
- In a large pitcher or bowl, add simple syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, and orange liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Store and refrigerator in sealed pitcher or containers.
Makes roughly eight servings of mix.
Variations & Substitutions
The beauty of making your own Long Island ice tea mix is the options to tailor the flavors for you.
- Alter the amount of lemon or lime juice based on personal preference and how sour you want your mix to be.
- Add a splash or so of additional simple syrup for a sweeter mix.
- Skip the orange liqueur and add-in when the time comes to mix with spirits.
- Instead of orange liqueur, use approximately two ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Cut the recipe in half for smaller batches.
- Add one egg white for every eight ounces of mix to make a creamier sour mix. Do so by adding eight ounces of mix to a cocktail shaker with one egg white, shake well to foam. Do not add ice.
- Although cola is called for as part of the spirit-free ingredients, adding it to the mix ahead of time can cause it to fall flat.
- Replace the orange liqueur with raspberry liqueur for a mix to make the Grateful Dead cocktail instead.
How to Mix It Up With Alcohol
When the time comes to hop on the LIT express, all that's left is to grab a few bottles of booze and you're on your way. In a highball glass, add your ice and the usual line-up of Long Island liquors-- gin, rum, tequila, and vodka. Top off with three ounces of the LIT mix and a splash of cola. It's easy enough to remember a 1:1 ratio, in this case, there are 3 ounces total of spirits to 3 ounces of the mix before the splash of cola.
How to Store & How Long It Keeps
Keep your Long Island mix in an airtight container. It doesn't matter if this is a pitcher with a cap that seals completely, a glass jar or two, or everyday plastic containers. The mix needs to be refrigerated at all times and stays good for approximately one to two weeks. If you have too much mix, the recipe can be cut in half to prevent food waste. Should you opt for egg whites, the mix should be used within two days.
Keeping the Party Chugging Along
The Long Island Iced Tea can be a pain to mix up, with nearly a dozen bottles cluttering the countertop, it can feel overwhelming. With a homemade Long Island mix, you skip the added sugars and weird ingredients in favor of the perfect flavors, not to forget fewer bottles between you and the first sip.
