Love Long island iced tea? This fun twist on a classic has a nice refreshing summer brightness to it. You will be making this Orange Island Iced Tea for the rest of the summer.

So who doesn’t love a delicious summer cocktail? I certainly do. Something that just says relaxed, sunny, socializing and of course fun…all in one alcoholic beverage. I’ve always loved a Long Island Iced Tea, but wanted to make it a bit different so have added the orange here, and it just works so well. Above all, you’re gonna love how refreshing it is. Also, the orange takes away some of that killer bite that Long Island Iced Teas tend to have, as it makes it just a bit more flavorsome. But don’t be fooled! It is still just as alcoholic. Hence after one or two you will definitely feel it! You have been warned!

The History of the Long Island Iced Tea

Start looking at the stories behind this cocktail, and you immediately find lots of contrasting information.

Firstly, you’ll hear the popular story that it was invented in 1972 by a bar tender in Hampton Bays on Long Island, New York. However dig a little deeper and you’ll find that some say the drink was invented around 50 years before that, at Long Island, Tennessee. I love this story, as it tells of a bar tender creating this (now classic) drink during Prohibition. And cocktails always just straightaway take me to ideas of hidden bars and secret, underground drinking. The two contrasting stories of the drink’s origin in fact even resulted in a public argument between representatives from the two Long Islands in 2018! Tennessee won that argument, but New York continues to contest it…

But in the end, I don’t really care who invented it. It’s here, and it’s a brilliant cocktail, and I obviously love adding my own twist here. So who invented the Orange Island Iced Tea? I did, in Los Angeles, in 2020.

There will surely be public arguments about it in years to come 😉

Who’s Making this Orange Island Iced Tea?

So, ok guys! If you make yourself an Orange Island Iced Tea, please leave a comment and additionally give this recipe a share! I love to hear from all of you, and I surely always do my best to respond to your comments. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Tik Tok! Because I like to look through and see your creations. Post to Instagram stories too so I can easily share with my fans!

In search of another great summer cocktail? Check out my Ultimate Pina Colada. You’re summer cocktail parties will never have tasted so good!