How to Make Strawberry Long Island Iced Tea

The title tells you everything you need to know with this drink; a strawberry long island iced tea is just a long island with strawberry added. How the long island iced tea was created and when is the source of several stories, though the most prevalent is that it was created in Oak Beach Inn, a Long Island, New York nightclub. Origins aside, this drink remains a favorite of many consumers, and adding strawberry is an easy way to change it up.

• 1/2 ounce vodka
• 1/2 ounce tequila
• 1/2 ounce gin
• 1/2 ounce white rum
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 1 ounce strawberry puree or strawberry margarita mix
• Sour mix
• 2 lemon slices
• 1 sliced strawberry

As with most cocktails, premium liquors will taste better than the cheapest option on the shelf. If you're just making a couple long island iced teas and don't want to invest in that much alcohol, consider mini bottles. Premium options are often available in miniature, as distillers want you to sample their product.

1. Fill a highball glass with ice. 
2. Add each liquor and the triple sec to the glass first. Then add the strawberry puree or strawberry margarita mix. The puree will give the drink a sweeter taste, while the margarita mix provides a sweet-and-sour combination. Try out both to find your favorite.
3. Pour in sour mix to the top of the glass.
4. Shake well to combine the ingredients. About four to five vigorous shakes should do it. If you don't have a cocktail shaker, stir the drink well.
5. Top with the lemon and strawberry slices as a garnish and enjoy.

Really want the strawberry to stand out? Try muddling sliced strawberries in the bottom of the glass before you start mixing, then finish the recipe as directed. Muddling uses a muddler -- similar to a pestle, as in a mortar and pestle -- to grind the strawberries at the bottom of the glass. This releases the juices and lets the strawberry flavor really come through. Your strawberry long island iced tea will be bursting with strawberry deliciousness.

It will make the taste significantly sweeter, but you can use a strawberry simple syrup or other strawberry syrup in place of the strawberry puree. For a subtle hint of strawberry in your long island, use a strawberry rum and strawberry vodka and leave out the extra puree. You'll still have a strawberry long island, without the syrupy sweetness of mixers. Muddled strawberries work well in this version, as they don't add too much sweetness and complement the flavored liquors.