When I think of a Long Island Iced Tea I’m immediately reminded of my senior year of high school and our spring break trip to Cabo. Ten or so friends and I were somehow allowed to run loose in Cabo for a week with questionably minimal adult supervision #ThanksMom. There were several Long Islands involved over the course of said week, as well as the infamous blue-hued drink that goes by the acronym AMF. It’s safe to say my present day drinking habits have matured a bit and I definitely wouldn’t associated the Long Island Iced Tea with upscale craft cocktail culture. Craft Cocktails – a popular cocktail recipe book/collaboration by a handful of ultra-talented bartenders  – has in fact managed to change that with author Brian Van Flandern’s grown up version, aptly named “Drink Responsibly.”

The book was a sweet gift from a friend and while it’s a gorgeous piece of eye candy, the drinks are pretty complex and require several ingredients each. Most of which I either don’t necessarily keep on hand all the time or wouldn’t be down to splurge on an entire bottle of just for one cocktail. Funny enough, this version of a Long Island was the only drink in the book I had all the components for.

Basically a gussied-up version of a Long Island Iced Tea but slightly less alcoholic, the Drink Responsibly is more balanced than it’s rowdy cousin and yet still packs a punch. Like I mentioned, it incurs a long list of ingredients so make sure you have a well stocked bar before attempting this project of a cocktail. Makes 1 drink.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 1/4 oz Grand Marnier or your favorite orange liqueur
• 1/2 oz Ketel One or your favorite vodka
• 1/4 oz Tanqueray No. 10 or your favorite gin
• 1/4 oz Don Julio Blanco or your favorite tequila
• 1/4 oz Oronoco or your favorite rum
• 1 oz Gus Dry Cola (I substituted with Live Soda)

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients except soda in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass.
2. Add ice and shake vigorously.
3. Strain into a highball filled with fresh ice, top with soda and garnish with a lemon wedge. Enjoy!

{ My lineup: Cointreau, Tanqueray No. 10, Casamigos, Hangar 1, Live Soda Cola & Flor de Cana }

{ All photos by Megan Burgess }

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