New England Iced Tea

You’ve heard of New England clam chowder and New England baked beans. But have you ever tried a New England iced tea? This twist on the classic Long Island iced tea is just as potent, but it gets a pretty pink hue from one of the northeast’s signature flavors: cranberry. Just like the classic, New England iced tea contains five kinds of liquor, but opts for sugar and lime juice instead of sour mix, and cranberry juice instead of cola. The sweet-tart flavors balance the booze, keeping it light and sippable.

What I love about this New England iced tea is how crisp and refreshing it is. Try it with homemade cranberry juice if you have frozen or fresh berries, and make it as tart or sweet as you like. Long Island iced teas can feel heavy and syrupy, but this pale pink drink is downright summery.

Ingredients for New England Iced Tea

• Sugar: Use regular granulated sugar for a neutral sweetness. You can use honey or agave nectar instead, but the flavor will be slightly different.
• Spirits: This cocktail packs a punch thanks to equal parts of light rum, vodka, gin, tequila and triple sec!
• Lime juice: The same easy way to juice lemons also works with limes. I like to freeze fresh lime juice in an ice cube tray so it’s always ready to go when I need it.
• Ice: Instead of plain ice, try some fun ice cube ideas to elevate the cocktail. Add edible flowers or fresh cranberries to each well in an ice cube tray before adding water and freezing them. It’s a simple yet gorgeous touch.
• Cranberry juice: The addition of cranberry juice makes this cocktail so uniquely New England. The sweet-tart flavor balances the sugar and spirits perfectly.
• Lemon slice: Garnish the cocktail with a lemon slice. It’s optional, but it does add a pleasant hint of citrus. You could use a lime slice instead since there’s already lime juice in the cocktail.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the sugar, spirits and lime

In a mixing glass or a tumbler, combine the sugar, vodka, rum, gin, triple sec, lime juice and tequila. Stir them together until the sugar is dissolved.

Step 2: Pour over ice and add cranberry juice

Place ice in a highball glass, then pour in the sugar mixture. Top it with the cranberry juice and garnish it with a lemon slice, if desired.

New England Iced Tea Variations

• Garnish it with cranberries: Make a batch of sugared cranberries, and drop a few into each glass just before serving.
• Give it a little fizz: Give the drink spritz vibes by adding a splash of ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, club soda or cranberry-lime seltzer.

How to Make New England Iced Tea for a Crowd

If you’re expecting a crowd, just double, triple or quadruple the ingredients to make this New England iced tea an easy batch cocktail. Combine everything (except for the ice and lemon slice) in a large pitcher. Cover and store it in the refrigerator up to three days. When you’re ready to serve drinks, pour it into ice-filled glasses and add a lemon slice.

New England Iced Tea Tips

What should you serve with New England iced tea?

With a strong drink like New England iced tea, it’s a good idea to have some snacks or bite-sized appetizers to nibble on—like pimiento cheese crostini, apricot-glazed bacon spirals or bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers. If it’s a leisurely afternoon or evening, I love to assemble a charcuterie board to graze on from the different cheeses, nuts and meats I have on hand.