What Percent of Alcohol is in a Long Island?

November 22, 2025 •

2 min read

While it may resemble harmless iced tea, a standard Long Island Iced Tea can contain a surprising 15% to 22% alcohol by volume (ABV), making it one of the most potent cocktails you can order. Its high alcohol content comes from combining five different spirits with only a small amount of non-alcoholic mixers.

Quick Summary

This article explores the potent alcohol content of a Long Island Iced Tea, detailing how the standard recipe combines five different spirits to create a deceptively strong cocktail. It also covers how the final ABV is calculated and factors that can influence its strength.

Key Points

ABV Range: The alcohol content in a Long Island Iced Tea typically ranges from 15% to 22% ABV, making it significantly stronger than many other cocktails.
Five Spirits: The high potency is due to its recipe, which combines five different alcoholic spirits: vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and triple sec.
Dilution is Key: The final alcohol percentage is heavily influenced by the amount of cola and sweet and sour mix used, with less mixer resulting in a stronger drink.
Deceptive Taste: The cocktail's flavor is sweet and citrusy, effectively masking the intense alcoholic content and contributing to its reputation as a deceptively potent drink.
Serving Variation: Homemade versions and pours by different bartenders can result in a wide variance of alcohol percentages, so the strength is never guaranteed.
Highball Status: Despite its strength, it's often served in a tall highball glass, which can lead drinkers to underestimate its powerful effects.

The Recipe Behind the Potency

The cocktail's strength comes from combining five different spirits. A typical recipe includes roughly equal parts of:

Vodka
Gin
Light rum
Blanco tequila
Triple sec (or Cointreau)

These spirits are then mixed with sweet and sour mix and topped with cola. Standard vodka, gin, rum, and tequila are usually 40% ABV, while triple sec is often around 30% ABV.

Calculating the Alcohol Percentage

Determining the exact ABV involves calculating the total amount of pure alcohol from the spirits and dividing it by the drink's total volume, including mixers and ice dilution. For example, combining 0.5 oz of each of the five spirits (four at 40% ABV, one at 30% ABV) results in about 0.95 oz of pure alcohol. If the total drink volume (including mixers and dilution) is around 7 ounces, the ABV would be approximately 13.6%. However, with less mixer or more generous pours, the ABV frequently reaches the 15% to 22% range cited by various sources.

Factors Influencing a Long Island's Strength

The final alcohol content can vary based on several factors:

Bartender's Pour: How much of each spirit is poured significantly impacts the ABV.
Recipe Differences: Variations in the amounts or types of spirits used affect strength.
Mixer Amount: More cola and sweet and sour mix reduce the ABV.
Ice Dilution: Melting ice gradually dilutes the drink, lowering the ABV over time.

Long Island Iced Tea vs. Other Cocktails: A Comparison


Cocktail	Typical ABV Range	Key Difference	Potency
Long Island Iced Tea	15%–22%	Blends five spirits with minimal mixer, deceptively easy-drinking.	High
Gin & Tonic	9%–12%	One spirit heavily diluted with tonic water.	Low-Medium
Cosmopolitan	15%–18%	Includes vodka and triple sec, but balanced with juices.	Medium-High
Martini	25%–35%	Two spirits with very little dilution, served 'up'.	Very High
Mojito	10%–14%	Features rum, but heavy on the non-alcoholic soda water, lime, and mint.	Low

The Deceptive Strength

The Long Island Iced Tea's pleasant, non-alcoholic taste profile, primarily from the sweet and sour mix and cola, effectively masks the presence of multiple high-proof liquors. This can lead drinkers to underestimate its potency and consume more alcohol than intended, resulting in stronger effects than expected. Responsible consumption is strongly advised.

Conclusion

A standard Long Island Iced Tea typically contains between 15% and 22% ABV, making it a considerably strong cocktail. Its unique blend of five spirits and minimal mixers contribute to this high alcohol content, which can vary based on preparation and ingredients. The deceptive flavor makes moderation essential. For more information on its history, explore its competing origin stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a Long Island Iced Tea is significantly stronger than a glass of wine. While wine typically contains around 12% ABV, a Long Island often falls between 15% and 22% ABV.

No, a Long Island Iced Tea does not contain any real iced tea. It gets its name because the splash of cola and garnish give it the amber appearance of iced tea.

A Long Island Iced Tea can contain the equivalent of 2 to 2.5 standard drinks, depending on the recipe. A U.S. standard drink contains 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.

The drink's strength is masked by the sweet and sour mix and cola, which balance and hide the taste of the multiple spirits. This pleasant flavor can make it dangerously easy to consume quickly.

As the ice in the glass melts, it adds water to the drink, which dilutes the spirits and reduces the overall ABV over time. This means the first sips are stronger than the last.

Yes, you can make a less alcoholic version by reducing the pour size of each spirit, or by adding more non-alcoholic mixers like cola. This will lower the overall ABV without completely changing the flavor profile.

While it is one of the strongest and most notorious cocktails, it is not the strongest. Other cocktails, like the Aunt Roberta, contain even more alcohol by volume.