Folks - there is no tea in this Long Island Iced Tea recipe.

This Long Island Iced Tea recipe is deliciously loaded. This deceptive-looking, cool summer-time drink was concocted in the mid-seventies by Mr. Robert (Rosebud) Butts, a truly talented mixologist who plied his skills at the Oak Beach Inn in Hampton Bays, New York State. There are many variations on his original drink, but to make it as Mr. Butts did just follow these Long Island Iced Tea directions and serve it to all those who ask - nay, demand it.

• half an ounce dark rum (not white);
• half an ounce gin;
• half an ounce vodka;
• half an ounce tequila;
• half an ounce Triple Sec;
• a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice;
• a splash of Coke and a lemon wedge garnish.

Now, let's take a moment to reflect on what we're going to construct here. Mixing Rosebud's Long Island iced tea recipe is not for the faint-hearted, so before we get started, there are some necessary requirements. First of all, make sure that the nectars listed above are of the very best quality (top shelf in the liquor store). Then in order to make this correctly so that you experience it the way Rosebud meant it to be, you must have,

• a well-chilled glass or stainless Boston cocktail-type shaker with a strainer;
• an accurate measure - use a jigger, a shot-glass or one of those auto-measuring bottle spouts;
• as this is a "practice" Long Island iced tea recipe, just one 12 ounce highball or Collins glass which you've put in the freezer for a few minutes.

Put two or three ice cubes (made from filtered water) in the Collins glass. Measure each of the ingredients very accurately into your chilled shaker and shake them together for about five seconds (use Peter Gabriel's "Steam" to get the correct rhythm). Pour the resulting delectable combination over the ice cubes in your glass and add a good splash of Coke - it must be fizzing when you serve it. Serve it to yourself. That is the true Long Island Iced Tea recipe - if it's made in any other way it's not a Long Island iced tea.

Mix yourself another. Practice makes perfect. You have now discovered that while this Long Island iced tea recipe looks just like iced tea, it is not!

There are some variations which are wonderful - try these;

Peach Long Island Iced Tea
Use peach schnapps instead of tequila.

Jersey Tea
Use Jaegermeister instead of the Coke.

Pittsburgh Tea
Use Wild Turkey instead of tequila.

Long Beach Iced Tea
Use cranberry juice instead of the Coke.

California Iced Tea
Use orange juice instead of the Coke.

Tokyo Iced Tea
Use Midori liqueur instead of tequila and lemonade instead of Coke.

Alaskan Iced Tea
Use blue Curacao instead of the Coke.

Tennessee Iced Tea
Use Jack Daniel's instead of tequila.

All of these are pretty lethal, so be sure to cut up your lemon wedge garnishes before starting.

There are other variations on the Long Island Iced Tea recipe but their names have no place in this story. Enjoy!