I would like to take this opportunity to formally announce to the world that I, Jesse Zakshesky, at the ripe age of 21 years old, can safely say that I have finally found the crowned jewel of alcoholic beverages, a drink that I anticipate enjoying for the duration of my life, and friends, that drink would be a refreshing Long Island Iced Tea.

For those of you who have yet to experience one of these delectable delicacies, here's the entire wikipedia article for you to gaze upon:

A Long Island Iced Tea is a highball made with, among other ingredients, vodka, gin, tequila, and rum. A popular version mixes equal parts vodka, gin, tequila, rum and triple sec with 1 1/2 parts sour mix and a splash of cola. Most variants use equal parts of the main liquors but include a smaller amount of triple sec (or other orange-flavored liquor). Close variants often replace the sour mix with sweet and sour mix or with lemon juice, the cola with actual iced tea, or add white creme de menthe; however, most variants do not include any tea, despite the name of the drink. Some restaurants substitute brandy for the tequila.

The drink has a much higher alcohol concentration (~28%) than most highballs because of the proportionally small amount of mixer. Long islands can be ordered "extra long" which signals the bartender to even further increase the alcohol to mixer ratio.

Outside of the United States, this highball is often altered, due to the unpopularity of sour mix^{[citation needed]}. Long Island Iced Tea served outside the States is often made of liquors and cola alone (without sour mix), with lemon or lime juice, orange juice or with lime cordial.

In the UK Angostura bitters replaces sour mix in the cocktail.

You can also buy a premade mix at any liquor retailer, sold by Captain Morgan. However, as my roommate Eric can attest to, they are supposed to be mixed with actual ice tea or soda, with a little sour (typically lemon juice). Apparently the way I drink it, which is to pour a large glass, and adding some ice, is not appealing to him.

Eric: "My god, that tastes like paint thinner."

If you are like me however, you will fall in love with this tantalizing drink, and will want to make it at home. The short video below shows you how.