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This Texas Tea may not have a drop of actual tea, but it sure packs a punch! It’s a bold, boozy blend of five liquors, cola, and a splash of citrus—perfect for cooling off with a grown-up drink that knows how to party.

a glass of texas tea on top of wooden table with a couple bottles on the background.
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What Is A Texas Tea Drink

A Texas Tea drink isn’t actually made with iced tea. In fact, it’s like a Long Island Iced Tea with a twist! Designed to evoke the refreshing feel of Texas sweet tea on a hot summer day, this cocktail’s dark liquor and cola create the deceptive appearance of an innocent, iced tea-like drink.

Texas Tea vs. Long Island Iced Tea: What’s the Difference?

Texas Tea is essentially a Long Island Iced Tea, but with an extra shot of bourbon. While both mix multiple spirits for their classic great taste, Texas Tea uses dark liquor like whiskey and cola, giving it a bolder, richer flavor. In contrast, Long Island Iced Tea features clear spirits and a lighter, citrusy taste with a splash of cola.

texas tea ingredients.

Ingredients for Texas Tea Drink

  • Dry gin
  • Vodka
  • Gold tequila: You can also use silver tequila. Keep in mind that if you swap out the gold tequila for silver or clear, then your cocktail will be lighter in color.
  • Gold rum: I used Bacardi brand but any brand will work. You can even use a light, silver, or clear colored rum in this recipe. I do not suggest using a spiced rum though. Be careful to read the label as they are typically sold near each other on the store shelves.
  • Whisky-bourbon: I used Rebel Bourbon, but Maker’s is also a staple for me. But you can use Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, or any other brand you would use for other cocktails.
  • Orange liqueur: You can use Triple Sec, Orange Curacao, or any brand of orange liqueur.
  • Simple syrup: Use a store-bought bottle or make your own by combining equal parts sugar and water and cooking on the stovetop until the sugar has dissolved. Cool and transfer it to a sealed container like a mason jar and keep in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 
  • Fresh lemon juice: You can substitute 3 ounces of a sour mix for the lemon juice and simple syrup mixture. Or for a slightly different, more tangy flavor, you can use lime juice instead of lemon juice.
  • Cola: I used Pepsi for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite brand.
  • Ice

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

2 glasses of texas tea on top of silver tray.

How to Make Texas Tea

  1. Combine The Cocktail: Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the alcohol, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
  2. Grab The Glass: Garnish the rim of each lowball glass with a lemon wedge and fill with ice.
  3. Serve: Pour the Texas Tea into the glasses and top each drink with cola. Serve and sip slowly!
pour all the ingredients in a shaker and pour into a glass.

Tips for the Perfect Texas Tea Drink

  • Choose Liquor You Like: Skip bottom-shelf—use liquor you’d drink solo. Quality matters for a smoother, better-tasting drink.
  • Use the Right Ratio: Balance dark liquor and cola so it’s bold, not overpowering. Adjust strength and add citrus for freshness.
  • Grab a Glass: Use a highball or Tom Collins glass—tall with room for ice and all your ingredients.
texas tea in a mason jar,

Variations Of Texas Tea To Try

  • Long Beach Tea: Substitute cranberry juice for the cola for a fruitier and more intensely tart version of this cocktail. 
  • Long Island Iced Tea: Follow the same recipe for Texas Tea but simply omit the bourbon.
  • Electric Iced Tea: For a neon blue version of the classic cocktail, omit the bourbon, substitute the orange liqueur with Blue Curaçao and substitute the cola with a lemon-lime soda.
  • Hawaiian Iced Tea: Omit the bourbon and substitute the cola with pineapple juice for a more tropical tea.

Can You Make a Non-Alcoholic Texas Tea?

Absolutely! You can easily make a non-alcoholic Texas Tea mocktail. Simply combine chilled brewed black tea with lemonade, cranberry juice, and orange juice, then stir in simple syrup if you like it sweeter. Serve it over ice and garnish with lemon or lime slices and fresh mint. Make a big batch in a gallon container to serve a crowd of kids!

Proper Storage

For the classic Texas Tea cocktail, it’s best to serve the drinks right away for the freshest taste and fizziest cola. However, if you choose to prepare your drinks in advance, you can mix the liquors, lemon, and simple syrup a few hours ahead of time, and then right before serving, add the ice and cola. If you add the cola too soon, it will go flat.

If batching ahead, keep the alcohol components mixed together and add ice and garnishes just before serving to maintain freshness and flavor.

3 glasses of texas tea on top of wooden table.

More Easy Cocktail Recipes

If you tried this Texas Tea Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!

5 from 1 vote
texas tea in a glass on top of wooden table.

Texas Tea

Serves —
Texas Tea is a twist on the classic Long Island cocktail. Easy to make with 6 different spirits, lemon juice, and simple syrup, this drink is deceptively strong due to the color of cola.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 1 oz dry gin
  • 1 oz vodka
  • 1 oz gold tequila
  • 1 oz gold rum NOT spiced
  • 1 oz whisky-bourbon
  • 1 oz orange liqueur
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice from 2 small lemons
  • 2 oz cola I used Pepsi
  • Garnish with a lemon wedge and ice

Instructions
 

  • Fill a cocktail shaker, or large mason jar with lid, half full with ice.
  • To the cocktail shaker add the dry gin, vodka, gold tequila, gold rum, whiskey-bourbon, orange liqueur, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
  • Add a lemon wedge to the rim of each lowball cocktail glass and fill the glass ¾ full with ice.
  • Divide the Texas Tea between the two glasses and top each drink with 1 oz. each cola.

Jenn’s Notes

Tips:
  • I highly suggest that you do not use liquors that are bottom shelf, and that you use individual liquors that you would enjoy drinking on their own. Due to the nature of this recipe it is a very strong drink and you want it to be as smooth as possible. I do not feel that top shelf, or very expensive, brands need to be used but I do think that the quality does make a difference.
  • Some liquor, and liqueur, substitutions are as follows:
    • Orange Liqueur– you can use Triple Sec, Orange Curacao or any brand of orange liqueur.
    • Whiskey-Bourbon– I used Maker’s Mark brand but you can use Jack Daniels, Jim Beam or any other brand you would use for other cocktails.
    • Gold Rum– I used Bacardi brand but any brand will work. You can even use a light, or clear, rum in this recipe. I do not suggest using a spiced rum though. Be careful to read the label as they are typically sold near each other on the store shelves.
    • Gold Tequila– You can use a silver tequila also.  *Just note that if you swap out the gold rum and/or gold tequila for a silver, or clear, then your cocktail will be lighter in color*
    • Fresh squeezed lemon juice and Simple Syrup– You can substitute 3 ounces of a sour mix for these two ingredients.  I like the freshness the lemon juice provides but you will still have a delicious drink with the substitution.
  • I like to keep a bottle of simple syrup (can be found at any liquor store) stocked in my liquor cabinet as it can be used in so many cocktails. If you want to make your own you can combine equal parts granulated sugar and water (I do ½ cup each) in a small saucepan on medium-high heat just until the sugar has dissolved. Allow it to cool and transfer it to a sealed container like a mason jar. It will keep in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

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