Texas Tea is a boozy cocktail of six different spirits shaken with a splash of cola, lemon juice and simple syrup and served in a single glass (think Long Island iced tea with a shot of bourbon). While this easy cocktail recipe can be made in only 3 minutes, it packs a potent punch that’s meant for slow sipping!
What is Texas Tea: Texas Tea vs Long Island
A Texas Tea is a simple twist on the popular mixed drink, Long Island Iced Tea, but this drink includes a shot of whisky-bourbon mixed in with the gin, vodka, tequila, rum, and orange liquor.
Despite its name and appearance, there is no iced tea to be found in this cocktail – its signature color comes from the small amount of cola that disguises the high concentration of alcohol.
Warning: don’t let the smooth taste of a Texas Tea fool you; with six types of liquor in each spiked sip, this is a one-and-done kind of cocktail that goes down easily and gets the job done! This drink is always a favorite for those who desire a cocktail that packs a potent punch!
For more boozy beverages, try my Lemon Drop Martini and Mimosa Float.
Why we love Texas Iced Tea
- Quick and easy to make in 3 minutes.
- Simple recipe combines 6 spirits plus a 3 ingredient mixer.
- Only uses a cocktail shaker to create this delicious boozy beverage.
- A tasty iced “tea” made without a tea bag.
- It’s the ultimate refreshing sip for summer!
- Perfect cocktail for cookouts, backyard barbecues, and adult parties.
Texas Tea Ingredients
- Dry gin
- Vodka
- Gold tequila: You can use silver tequila also.
- 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.
- Whisky-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.
- Orange liqueur: You can use Triple Sec, Orange Curacao or any brand of orange liqueur.
- Simple syrup
- Lemon
- Cola: I used Pepsi for this recipe but feel free to use your favorite brand.
- Ice
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW
Texas Tea Alcohol Substitutions & Additions
- Swap The 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.
- 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.
Texas Tea Tools
- Cocktail shaker or mason jar with lid
- Lowball cocktail glass
How to Make Texas Tea
Texas Tea is quick and easy to make simply by shaking together your ingredients and serving them with a splash of cola. While its color resembles an innocent-looking iced tea, there’s a high concentration of alcohol in every single sip.
- Fill: Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice then add the alcohol, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake: Shake to combine.
- Serve: Fill 2 cocktail glasses ¾ full with ice, garnish with a lemon wedge, pour Texas Tea into the glasses, and top each drink with 1 oz. cola.
Texas Tea Drink Recipe Tips
- This drink is a lot stronger than it tastes so be cautious and drink responsibly.
- 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.
Texas Tea Recipe FAQs
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.
Texas Tea is actually not made using iced tea. It is a cocktail that mimics the refreshing taste of iced tea on a hot Texas day.
You may recognize most of the ingredients in a texas tea because it is essentially a Long Island Tea with the addition of a whiskey bourbon. It is the dark liquor and addition of dark cola that gives it that ‘iced tea’ look.
I recommend serving your cocktails right away. 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.
I like to keep a bottle of simple syrup (it 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 use 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.
Other Easy Cocktail Recipes
Texas Tea Drink
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
- 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.
