Ingredients
- .5 oz Orange Curacao liqueur
- .5 oz White Rum
- .5 oz Gin
- .5 oz Vodka
- fill with Orange Juice
- 1 Splash(s) Lemonade
Instructions
Combine Ingredients:
- Pour 0.5 oz of orange curaçao, 0.5 oz of white rum, 0.5 oz of gin, and 0.5 oz of vodka into a Collins glass filled with ice.
Top with Orange Juice:
- Fill the glass with orange juice.
Add a Splash of Lemonade:
- Add a splash of lemonade to the glass.
Stir and Garnish:
- Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
- Garnish with a slice of orange.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Florida Iced Tea.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Florida Iced Tea is a regional spin on the notorious Long Island Iced Tea, a drink that first gained widespread popularity in the 1970s. While the exact origin of the Long Island is debated, often attributed to Robert Butt in New York or an earlier version in Tennessee, the Florida variation emerged as bars experimented with the potent formula.
This drink belongs to the 'Iced Tea' family of cocktails, a misleading name given the complete absence of tea. Its closest relative is the Long Island Iced Tea, sharing the same core of multiple white spirits and a cola top. What sets the Florida Iced Tea apart is usually the addition of orange juice, sometimes replacing the cola entirely, or a specific spirit swap reflecting a regional preference.
You'll typically find a Florida Iced Tea at a beach bar, a lively resort, or any establishment where the goal is a potent, refreshing drink without much fuss. It's a party starter, a vacation staple, and a reliable choice when you need something strong to cut through the heat or the noise. Don't expect to see it on a high-end cocktail menu.
What it tastes like
The Florida Iced Tea delivers a complex, sweet and sour punch that masks its formidable alcohol content. You get the distinct citrus notes from the lemon and orange, often balanced by a healthy dose of simple syrup or triple sec. The blend of white spirits-vodka, rum, gin, and tequila-creates a smooth but boozy foundation, with the cola or orange juice providing a familiar finish.
Given its multiple spirit base, a Florida Iced Tea packs a serious ABV. With roughly 2 to 2.5 ounces of 80 proof spirits in a typical build, plus a bit more from the triple sec, you're looking at a drink that can easily hit 10-15% ABV. To put that in perspective, this single cocktail is often equivalent to two or three standard beers, so pace yourself accordingly.
The technique
Building a Florida Iced Tea is straightforward. Combine all the spirits, triple sec, and sour mix in a large highball or Collins glass filled with ice. Stir briefly to integrate the ingredients. Top with a splash of cola or orange juice, depending on the specific variation you're making. Garnish with a lemon or orange wedge. It's a quick build for a fast-moving bar.
The key technique for a good Florida Iced Tea is proper chilling and minimal dilution. Use plenty of fresh ice and stir just enough to combine the ingredients before topping. Over-stirring will water it down too much, losing its punch and flavor balance. A well-chilled glass also helps keep it refreshing without excessive ice melt.
Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Vodka
- Use
- Any decent mid-shelf vodka works here. Absolut, Smirnoff, Tito's. It's a workhorse spirit.
- Skip
- Anything flavored or extremely high-end. You won't taste the nuances, and it's a waste of money.
- Why
- Vodka provides a clean, neutral alcohol base without adding its own strong flavor. It's part of the 'invisible' boozy foundation.
Orange Juice
- Use
- Freshly squeezed if possible. Otherwise, a good quality not-from-concentrate OJ. Pulp is fine.
- Skip
- Frozen concentrate or anything with added sugars. It will make the drink too sweet and artificial.
- Why
- The orange juice is often the 'Florida' twist, adding a bright, tangy citrus note that distinguishes it from a standard Long Island. It also helps mellow the combined spirits.
Triple Sec
- Use
- Cointreau for a cleaner, drier orange profile, or a standard triple sec like Bols or DeKuyper for a sweeter version. Both work.
- Skip
- Blue Curaçao unless you're intentionally going for a color change. Avoid cheap, overly syrupy liqueurs.
- Why
- Triple sec provides essential orange flavor and sweetness, bridging the gap between the spirits and the citrus mixers. It's crucial for the overall balance.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink.
Long Island Iced Tea
- The potent progenitor.
- This is the classic, swapping out the orange juice for more cola and perhaps a splash of lemon juice. It's the blueprint for all 'Iced Tea' cocktails.
Tokyo Iced Tea
- Melon liqueur twist.
- Replace the triple sec with Midori melon liqueur and top with lemon-lime soda instead of cola. It gives the drink a vibrant green color and a distinct fruity flavor.
Adios Motherf*cker (AMF)
- Blue and boozy.
- Substitute blue curaçao for triple sec and top with lemon-lime soda. The AMF is known for its striking blue hue and equally potent kick.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use more gin or light rum. The goal is a neutral spirit base.
Orange liqueur or a splash of fresh orange juice with a touch more simple syrup can work in a pinch.
Make your own with equal parts fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. It's better than bottled anyway.
A large pint glass or even a sturdy water glass will do. Just ensure it holds enough volume for ice and liquid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Florida Iced Tea?
A Florida Iced Tea typically contains equal parts vodka, gin, light rum, tequila, and triple sec, combined with sour mix, and topped with either cola or orange juice, or a mix of both. A lemon or orange garnish is common.
Is Florida Iced Tea strong?
Yes, it is very strong. With five different spirits, it has a high alcohol content, often equivalent to multiple beers in a single serving. Drink it slowly.
What does a Florida Iced Tea taste like?
It tastes sweet and tangy, with a prominent citrus flavor from the lemon and orange. The blend of spirits creates a smooth, boozy background, often masked by the mixers. It does not taste like actual tea.
Why is it called Florida Iced Tea?
It's a play on the Long Island Iced Tea, with the 'Florida' typically referring to the addition of orange juice, a signature product of the state, or other regional spirit adjustments.
Is it true there is no tea in a Florida Iced Tea?
That's correct. Despite the name, there is no actual tea in a Florida Iced Tea. The 'iced tea' refers to its appearance, which can resemble iced tea, especially when topped with cola.
What's the difference between a Long Island Iced Tea and a Florida Iced Tea?
The primary difference is often the mixer. A Long Island Iced Tea is typically topped with cola, while a Florida Iced Tea frequently uses orange juice, or a combination of both, giving it a distinct citrus profile.
Can I make a Florida Iced Tea less strong?
You can reduce the amount of each spirit or omit one of them, but this will change the balance significantly. Alternatively, you can increase the amount of non-alcoholic mixers like sour mix, orange juice, or cola.
What kind of garnish should I use for a Florida Iced Tea?
A simple lemon or orange wedge or wheel works best. It adds a visual cue to the citrus notes and is easy to prepare for a high-volume drink.
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