9 Iced Tea Cocktails to Drink

Introduction

Cool, refreshing, and endlessly customizable, iced tea cocktails are the quintessential sippers for warm weather gatherings and relaxed evenings. Their marriage of brew and booze delivers vibrant, layered flavors that can be tailored to suit any taste. Whether you’re hosting a backyard party or just unwinding after a busy day, these iced tea cocktails elevate the classic beverage into something truly special—and remarkably easy to batch for your next get-together.

Why You’ll Love These Iced Tea Cocktails

The beauty of iced tea cocktails lies in their versatility: from sweet and fruity to herbaceous and crisp, there’s an iced tea blend for every palate. These drinks are simple to make, crowd pleasing, and require only a handful of ingredients, making them ideal for spontaneous parties or planned events. Plus, by prepping the iced tea base ahead, you can serve guests quickly and effortlessly.

Essential Ingredients for Iced Tea Cocktails

Before you begin, stock up on these must-have basics—you’ll be able to mix and match them to create all nine cocktails featured below!

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate a smart shopping list with all cocktail essentials organized by grocery section—making your trip efficient and your bar stocked for every occasion.

9 Iced Tea Cocktails to Drink

Here are nine inspired iced tea cocktails, each offering a unique twist on the classic. Choose your favorite, or try them all throughout the season!

1. Classic Long Island Iced Tea: A blend of vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec, fresh lemon, simple syrup, and black iced tea, topped with cola for a crowd favorite.
2. Bourbon Peach Tea: Bourbon meets peach nectar and black iced tea for a Southern-inspired delight, finished with mint.
3. Gin and Green Tea Cooler: Herbaceous gin with subtly grassy green tea, lemon juice, and tonic for sparkle.
4. Mojito Iced Tea: White rum, fresh mint, lime, simple syrup, and black tea, muddled and served over ice.
5. Spiked Arnold Palmer: Vodka or bourbon with black tea and homemade lemonade—summer in a glass!
6. Berry Vodka Iced Tea: Fresh berries muddled with vodka, sweetened black tea, and a splash of club soda.
7. Tequila Citrus Iced Tea: Tequila, fresh orange and lime slices, black tea, and a hint of agave syrup.
8. Jamaican Ginger Rum Tea: Dark rum, ginger beer, black tea, and a dash of bitters.
9. Honey-Lemon Whiskey Tea: Whiskey shaken with honey syrup and lemon juice, mixed into robust black tea for depth.

Instructions

1. Brew the Tea: Steep your choice of tea bags in hot water (use 2 bags per 2 cups water for strong flavor). Let cool, then chill completely.
2. Prepare Fresh Ingredients: Muddle fruit and herbs in the bottom of your glass or pitcher as recipes call for.
3. Add Spirits and Mixers: Pour in the required liquor and any juices, syrups, or sodas, then add cooled tea.
4. Assemble and Serve: Fill glasses with ice, pour in your prepared cocktail, stir, and garnish with fruit or herbs as desired.
5. Batches: For groups, scale up each recipe and mix in a pitcher for easy serving.

Serving Suggestions

Present your iced tea cocktails in tall glasses loaded with ice, garnished with fresh fruits, citrus wheels, or sprigs of mint. For parties, offer a build-your-own iced tea cocktail bar with various spirits, teas, and flavoring agents so guests can experiment with their perfect blend.

Nutritional Information

Each cocktail, depending on spirit and added sweeteners, typically contains between 120–220 calories. Adjust sugar and spirit amounts to suit your preferences and balance.

Weekly Meal Planning

Including cocktail recipes in your weekly meal plan is a great way to stay organized when entertaining or batch prepping. Save and schedule this recipe collection to automatically generate consolidated shopping lists that merge cocktail and meal ingredients—ensuring nothing gets forgotten and reducing excess purchases.

Planning Benefits:

• Combines all recipe ingredients into one streamlined shopping list
• Sorts groceries by section—bar, produce, or pantry—for easier trips
• Prevents overbuying and missed items
• Makes hosting or batching for the week a breeze

Pro tip: When scheduling multiple meals and cocktails, schedule your recipes to see overlapping ingredients—like lemon and mint—so your shopping list covers every recipe without waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Tea Brewing & Chilling: 1–2 hours
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (most of which is chilling time)

Enjoy discovering your favorite among these 9 iced tea cocktails—refreshing, versatile, and sure to be the highlight of your next gathering!