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Texas Tea Recipe
This Texas tea is a refreshing fizzy cocktail that will cool you down all summer long.
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Texas tea is a great way to cool down on a hot summer day. While it doesn’t actually have tea in it, this grown-up drink is just as refreshing as iced tea and has a lemony twist along with the delicious mixture of liquor and cola.
What is Texas Tea?
“Texas Tea” is a colloquial term for a strong and potent cocktail that’s often associated with the southern United States.
Texas Tea vs Long Island Iced Tea
Texas Tea typically includes a combination of several spirits, such as vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and sometimes whiskey. It’s also mixed with sweet and sour mix, cola, and citrus juice. A Long Island Iced Tea is made by combining vodka, rum, tequila, gin, triple sec (or orange liqueur), sour mix (or sweet and sour mix), and cola.
Texas Tea Ingredients
If you’re looking for a drink that packs a flavor punch, look no further than the Texas Tea cocktail.
This bold and boozy mix of vodka, tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, and cola boasts a complex taste that’s hard to forget.
It’s sweet, it’s sour, it’s a little bit spicy, and it’s all-around delicious.
You’ll need:
- 1 ounce of dry gin
- 1 ounce of vodka
- 1 ounce of gold tequila
- 1 ounce of gold rum (NOT spiced)
- 1 ounce of bourbon whisky
- 1 ounce of orange liqueur
- 1 ounce of simple syrup
- 2 ounces of fresh-squeezed lemon juice (from 2 small lemons)
- 2 ounces of cola (I used Pepsi)
- Garnish with a lemon wedge and ice cubes
PRO TIP:
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 Drink Recipe substitutions and additions
SIMPLE SYRUP: 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 (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.
LIQUOR SUBSTITUTIONS: There are plenty of alternatives and substitutions that you can use in this cocktail recipe. Here are a few that we have found to be delicious:
- ORANGE LIQUEUR: You can use triple sec, orange curaçao, or any brand of orange liqueur.
- BOURBON WHISKY: 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 the 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 also use silver tequila for this recipe.
RUM & TEQUILA: If you do swap out the gold rum and/or gold tequila for silver, or clear, then your cocktail will be lighter in color.
LEMON & SIMPLE SYRUP: For a simple twist, 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.
How to make Texas Tea
This tasty cocktail will come together in a few minutes in a cocktail shaker. Here are the steps to make it.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
This recipe makes two drinks. If you are serving a crowd, you can double or triple the recipe to make a pitcher for sharing.
STEP ONE: Fill a cocktail shaker or large mason jar with a lid half full with ice cubes.
STEP TWO: To the cocktail shaker, add the dry gin, vodka, gold tequila, gold rum, bourbon whisky, orange liqueur, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
STEP THREE: Add a lemon wedge to the rim of each lowball cocktail glass and fill the glass ¾ full with ice.
STEP FOUR: Divide the Texas tea between the two glasses and top each drink with 1 ounce of cola.
PRO TIP:
Add a fancy straw to your glass to make your drink extra fun.
How to serve a Texas Tea Cocktail
This Texas tea cocktail is best served on the rocks to make it a refreshing drink when the weather is warm. Add our fruit salsa with cinnamon chips or tomato salsa and tortilla chips for snacking while you enjoy your drink.
For something heartier, some savory teriyaki chicken skewers or a plate of loaded nachos, the key is to match the boldness of the cocktail with an equally bold and satisfying food item.
Looking to add a few more drinks to your bartending repertoire? Check out our screwdriver drink and our alcoholic frozen lemonade.
MORE ALCOHOL RECIPES
Storing This Texas Tea Cocktail
IN THE FRIDGE: You can whip up this drink and keep it in a pitcher for a few hours, but it will lose the fizz from the cola fairly quickly.
IN THE FREEZER: This drink is best made fresh, and we don’t recommend trying to freeze any of the components.
Refreshing Texas Tea Recipe
Texas tea is not 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 very similar to a Long Island iced tea with the addition of whisky bourbon. No matter what the name, this drink will keep you cool all summer.
Texas Iced Tea FAQs
Can I double this recipe?
If you are making this for a crowd, you can certainly make a larger batch. Our recipe makes two drinks, so multiply that by how many guests you are expecting.
Can I make this drink ahead of time?
You could mix up the liquor and simple syrup ahead of time and add the cola at the last minute to make sure your drink is nice and fizzy when you are ready to serve it.
Can I make my own simple syrup for this recipe?
If you would prefer to make your own simple syrup, you certainly can. Combine equal parts granulated sugar and water 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.
Texas Tea Cocktail
This Texas tea is a refreshing fizzy cocktail that will cool you down all summer long.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes
Servings 2 cocktails
Ingredients
- 1 ounce dry gin
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce gold tequila
- 1 ounce gold rum, NOT spiced
- 1 ounce bourbon whisky
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces fresh-squeezed lemon juice, from 2 small lemons
- 2 ounces cola, I used Pepsi
- lemon wedge and ice, garnish
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, whisky 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 ounce of cola.
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.
- This recipe makes two drinks. If you are serving a crowd, you can double or triple the recipe to make a pitcher for sharing.
- Add a fancy straw to your glass to make your drink extra fun.
Nutrition
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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Comments
Mel says
Definitely a summer party drink!