Ingredients
- 3 oz Vodka
- 3 oz White Rum
- 3 oz Gin
- 3 oz Triple Sec
- 6 oz Watermelon Pucker
- 1 liter Sour Mix
- 2 cups Ice
- Sprite for topping
- Watermelon cubes for garnish
Instructions
Mix Ingredients:
- In a large pitcher filled with ice, combine the vodka, white rum, gin, triple sec, watermelon pucker, and sour mix.
Top with Soda:
- Stir well to mix the ingredients. When serving, top each glass with a splash of Sprite.
Garnish:
- Garnish each glass with fresh watermelon cubes for a fruity touch.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The original Long Island Iced Tea hit the scene in the 1970s, a testament to mixing everything you had on hand. This watermelon take is a later, fruitier evolution, probably from some bar trying to stand out and capitalize on a good thing.
This drink belongs to the 'everything but the kitchen sink' family, a distant cousin to any highball where four white spirits decide to hang out. The Watermelon Pucker is the twist, making it less 'iced tea' and more 'fruit punch that hits hard'.
You're not ordering this at a fancy cocktail bar. This is for the backyard BBQ, the pool party, or any gathering where you need a big pitcher of something sweet and potent. It's a crowd-pleaser that gets the job done.
What it tastes like
Expect a sweet, bold punch of watermelon that masks a serious amount of liquor. The sour mix cuts through some of that sweetness, but don't kid yourself, this is a sugar bomb with a kick. The Sprite adds a necessary lift and some fizz at the end.
Don't let the fruit fool you. While this recipe is for a pitcher and gets diluted, a single glass still packs a decent punch. Expect each serving to hit about as hard as a strong IPA, maybe a little more, depending on your pour. It's a party starter, not a lightweight.
The technique
This is a pitcher drink, so grab your biggest jug. Combine all the booze, the pucker, and the sour mix over a good amount of ice. Give it a solid stir to get everything acquainted. Serve it up in tall highball glasses, topping each one with a splash of Sprite just before handing it off.
The key here is getting the chill right without over-diluting the whole batch. Add plenty of ice to the pitcher, stir until it's cold, then remove some of the melted ice if you're holding it for a while. And for god's sake, don't forget the Sprite. It really brightens the whole thing up.
Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Watermelon Pucker
- Use
- DeKuyper, Bols, or any good quality watermelon liqueur. It's the star of the show here.
- Skip
- Watermelon syrup. You need the alcohol content and the specific flavor profile of the pucker, not just sweetness.
- Why
- This isn't a subtle drink, and the pucker brings the intense, slightly artificial but undeniably fun watermelon flavor that defines it.
Sour Mix
- Use
- Good quality pre-made mix or a fresh homemade batch of lemon/lime juice and simple syrup. The homemade option is always better if you have the time.
- Skip
- Anything with artificial sweeteners or too much corn syrup. It'll make the drink cloying and throw off the balance.
- Why
- With all that sweet fruit and spirits, the sour mix is the only thing standing between you and a pure sugar rush. It provides the necessary tart balance.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink.
Classic LIIT
- The OG, no fruit frills
- Swap the Watermelon Pucker for cola. Keep everything else the same for the drink that started it all, tasting like iced tea but hitting much harder.
Peach LIIT
- Fuzzy fruit, same punch
- Substitute Peach Schnapps for the Watermelon Pucker and top with a splash of cranberry juice instead of Sprite for a different fruity profile.
Texas Tea
- When you need more kick
- Add a shot of tequila to the standard Long Island Iced Tea recipe. It doesn't lighten the load, it just adds another layer to the chaos.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Try Midori for a melon twist, or even strawberry liqueur for a different fruit vibe. It won't be the same, but it'll be fruity and fun.
Mix fresh lemon and lime juice (equal parts) with simple syrup (about 1:1 ratio) for a DIY version. For a liter of sour mix, you'd need about 16 oz fresh lemon juice, 16 oz simple syrup.
Any lemon-lime soda works. Or clear soda like ginger ale if you want a slightly different flavor. Even plain soda water if you want to cut the sweetness down.
Scale it down for a single glass. Use 0.5 oz each of vodka, rum, gin, triple sec, then add 1 oz Watermelon Pucker and about 5.5 oz sour mix. Top with Sprite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Watermelon Long Island Iced Tea?
Vodka, white rum, gin, triple sec, watermelon pucker, sour mix, and a splash of Sprite. It's typically garnished with fresh watermelon cubes.
Is a Watermelon Long Island Iced Tea strong?
Yes, it's a potent mix of four different spirits. Don't let the sweet watermelon flavor fool you into thinking it's a light drink, it's definitely not.
Why is it called an Iced Tea if there's no tea?
The original Long Island Iced Tea gets its name from its color, which resembles iced tea. The watermelon version keeps the name for the lineage and because it's a direct flavor variation.
Can I make this drink in advance?
You can mix the spirits, pucker, and sour mix ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Add ice and Sprite just before serving to keep it fresh and fizzy.
What's the best way to garnish this drink?
Fresh watermelon cubes are the standard and tie into the flavor profile. A lime wheel or a mint sprig could also add a nice touch, but keep it simple.
What kind of glass should I use?
A tall highball glass or a large Collins glass is ideal to accommodate the ice and ingredients, giving you plenty of room for that Sprite topping.
Is Watermelon Pucker alcoholic?
Yes, Watermelon Pucker is a liqueur and contains alcohol, typically around 15-20% ABV, so it definitely contributes to the drink's potency.
Can I use fresh watermelon juice instead of pucker?
You could, but it will change the profile significantly. You'd lose some of the alcoholic kick and the distinct 'candy' watermelon flavor that the pucker provides. You'd also need to adjust the sweetness and sour balance.
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