Long Island Iced Tea with Wine
Feeling a little repentant today? Try my Penitent Punch which is a wine lover’s version of a Long Island Iced Tea. This twist on a classic cocktail will bring you to your knees! Instead of a splash of cola, it’s topped with wine.
Long Island Iced Tea
This post comes with a humbling story and a lame movie reference but hang with me as I share a recipe for my penitent punch; a twist on a classic cocktail that will bring you to your knees!
A Long Island Iced Tea has always been a cocktail that will do just that (the knee bringing part.) Come to think of it, I recently read an article written by bartenders about the drinks that you should immediately stop ordering.
This was one of them. The reason being, a Long Island Iced Tea is a very strong drink and you tend to get intoxicated faster which is a bad thing. Why?
drunk fast=fewer drinks=a lower bar bill=small tip
Bartenders want to keep the drinks flowing and a Long Island Tea puts a cork in that!
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What is a Long Island Iced Tea?
A Long Island drink is 5 Spirits, a touch of lemon juice, and a topping of cola to give it the “tea” coloring. One that will humble you quite quickly.
I have never had one before as I was never brave enough to try it until last summer, albeit under the guise of another name. More on that later…
Why do they call it that?
As the story goes, a bartender from Long Island was challenged to make a strong cocktail that looked like iced tea. Challenge accepted, challenge won!
How much alcohol is in it?
Quite a bit actually. This strong mixed drink is actually 80% alcohol and 20% mixer. WHOA! No wonder I can’t have more than two, LOL!
What alcohol is in a Long Island Iced Tea?
Being 80% alcohol, this cocktail is pretty complex. Not sure why someone decided to put all these together but I am pretty glad they did. Maybe they were trying to use up the last remaining sips from a bunch of different bottles?
Ingredients Needed
- Gin (1 part)
- Rum (1 part)
- Tequila (1 part)
- Vodka (1 part)
- Triple Sec (1 part)
- Cola (I use red wine instead) (1 part)
- Sour Mix (1 part)
What is triple sec?
Triple sec is sweet orange flavored liqueur made from dried orange peels.
How strong is it?
Very, so drink responsibly! And be sure to hydrate in between drinks if you plan on having more than one. Oh, and a designated driver too!
Does it contain tea?
This unassuming cocktail is camouflaged as iced tea even though it doesn’t actually contain any iced tea at all. Unless the serve accidentally adds more tea to your glass.
Where did it come from?
The pizza joint where I tried the cocktail called it a Humble Tea and boy, did it ever humble me. I should have known better when the cocktail menu stated a “3 Drink Maximum” under the name.
Normally there is a minimum listed but this is the first time I had seen a MAXIMUM. Surely a typo but that didn’t stop me from ordering one. Upon verification by our server, while I was sucking my first one down through a straw, there is a 3 drink maximum. PER DAY!
As I approached the bottom of my second one it became apparent why you can only have three. The tart and fruity flavors of the Humble Tea remind me of a raspberry lemonade but the sheer amount of alcohol in it catches up to you in no time. Since we were walking back to the hotel I had one more or the road.
This was a humungous mistake because I don’t remember much after we got back to the room and my screaming headache didn’t help as I sat on my knees in the bathroom praying to the Porcelain God the next morning. HUMBLE INDEED!
Two liters of water and a sleeve of Saltine crackers later, I finally had my wits about me. A mistake not to be repeated that trip I assure you, but we did go back to the pizza place again. I had to ask what was in the Humble Tea before we left so I could share this drink with all my friends.
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Tapas Tips & Tricks
- After you mix the spirits together, yes all 5 of them, you add the sour mix and combine.
- Pour it over ice in a tall glass leaving some room at the top for the wine.
- Slowly pour the wine on the top of the cocktail with the help of a spoon to make a gorgeous layered or ombre effect.
- You will want to stir the drink to combine all the flavors but it sure is pretty to look at like this!
- Their recipe uses a pinot noir but for my Penitent Punch I fruited it up even more by using a red sangria.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
The Penitent Punch cocktail is almost all alcohol and it is very strong so please drink responsibly. It tastes like a fruity lemonade-style drink but it packs a punch! No pun intended…
Red Wine Long Island Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Gin
- 1 ounce White Rum
- 1 ounce Tequila Blanco or Silver
- 1 ounce Vodka
- 1 ounce Triple Sec
- 2 ounces Sour Mix Homemade is best
- 3 ounces Red Wine I use a fruity sangria
Instructions
- Mix the gin, rum, tequila, vodka, triple sec, and sour mix in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice to two tall glasses.
- Pour the punch mixture over the ice.
- Add wine to the top of each glass.
- Don’t stir it if you want to keep the ombre effect, but it tastes much better after you do.
Notes
Nutrition
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This looks like hangover in a glass. And yet…I still want to try it!
It pretty much is. Be sure to hydrate before and after!
I live in a town in Wisconsin where Long Islands come in 32 oz. glasses and most restaurants serve over ten different types. We all get very disappointed when we go somewhere else and they are in a weird little regular-sized
glass!
What is your go to wine for this?
I like a pinot noir or a red blend!
Jennifer – This is one amazing drink!! I LOVE long islands … this is a must try. Next time I see you — remind me to tell you about my martini theory! LOL!!
Ooh! This sounds dangerous, dangerous fun that is! Might have to mix up this concoction and give it a try!
Such a pretty cocktail! I have a birthday coming up and when I get together with my family we like to have signature drinks like this! Going to try this soon 🙂
I will love to try it
OH MY!!!!!! DELICIOUS!!!! I live in Tampa Fl and Made these for a small Gasparilla party as a here’s something new…..well my phone is still ringing for the receipe! Amazing! Thanks!
Thank you! I am so glad you liked it!
Would love to know where you go these drinking glasses! Love the recipe!
Thank you! I got them off ebay;) but I have seen them at TJMAxx a few times in various sizes and colors.
What is the brand of the glasses? I wish I could drink but I can’t due to an autoimmune disease but these glasses are divine!
Thank you!
I got a set off ebay (just search for authentic recycled glass) and I have found the tall set at TJMaxx. Thanks for reading and sorry about the AI disease. I use these to drink my iced tea too!
YUM!
This looks like a crazy good cocktail! I”m loving the sangria component and will look forward to having (just one, or…maybe three) of these babies soon!
Can’t wait to try this. Am looking for something fun for a camping weekend that is taking place at a Pinot Noir festival, so this would be PERFECT! I was known in college (30+ years ago) as the chick in the dorm who always had a quart of Long Island mix in the fridge. Stop on by and BYO Pepsi. I got my Long Island recipe from a local frat house. I had many friends in the dorm. LOL
That’s great! My nickname in college was “two-beer” because that was all I could drink before getting drunk! LOL! This wine topped LIIT will make you the queen of the campsite for sure!
Oh boy, I think most of us have had a moment or two like that. I think I’ll stick to one. Such a pretty drink too!
Jennifer – This is one amazing drink!! I LOVE long islands … this is a must try. Next time I see you — remind me to tell you about my martini theory! LOL!!
Can’t wait to hear this story!
Ooh! This sounds dangerous, dangerous fun that is! Might have to mix up this concoction and give it a try!
I love this twist on a Long Island tea! Years ago, after several Long Island teas with my boyfriend and a looong conversation about why we should get engaged, he soon became my fiancé and now my husband of 30 years. So I think my he and I need to try your version and reminicse about the past!
It will make a great anniversary drink!
Ooh, that drink looks so beautiful! I’m kind of a lightweight these days, but I’d definitely like one or three 😉
It is pretty strong but if you sip and drink lots of water in between sips you will be fine!
Such a pretty cocktail! I have a birthday coming up and when I get together with my family we like to have signature drinks like this! Going to try this soon 🙂
This looks like a crazy good cocktail! I”m loving the sangria component and will look forward to having (just one, or…maybe three) of these babies soon!
This is my kind of cocktail!! I need to make this one this weekend!
That is one beautiful drink and I’ve been humbled more times than I can responsibly count! I’d take the 3 drink max as a dare…oops I love the idea of the wine in this drink so yea more booze but the color is so striking too!
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Unique I must say. But, thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I’m currently looking for some best drinks for this coming holidays with family and friends. Definitely, this one is a must try. Looking forward to more of recipes! 🙂
thank you so much!!
Unique I must say. But, thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I’m currently looking for some best drinks for this coming holidays with family and friends. Definitely, this one is a must try. Looking forward to more of recipes! 🙂