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Tokyo Ice Tea Recipe

Tokyo Ice Tea Recipe

By What’s Baking

A vibrant, high-octane twist on the Long Island Ice Tea with a striking emerald hue from Midori that delivers a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and citrus notes.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
Serves:
1 cocktail
An overhead shot of a tall, slender highball glass filled with a luminous green cocktail, ice cubes glistening under soft bar lighting. Condensation beads elegantly down the crystal-clear glass, capturing the vibrant emerald liquid inside. A thin slice of lime and lemon perch on the rim, their bright colors contrasting with the electric green of the Tokyo Ice Tea. Small bubbles rise through the cocktail from the soda splash, creating dynamic movement against the translucent layers of spirits. The glass sits on a polished dark wood bar, with subtle reflections of colored bottles in the background creating depth and atmosphere.

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml vodka</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml white rum</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml gin</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml silver tequila</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml triple sec (or Cointreau)</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml Midori (melon liqueur)</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml fresh lemon juice</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml simple syrup</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">Splash of lemon-lime soda (Sprite or 7UP)</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">Ice cubes</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">Lemon and lime slices for garnish</li> </ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"> <li class="equipment-single-item">Cocktail shaker</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Hawthorne strainer</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Jigger for measuring</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Bar spoon</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Highball glass</li> </ul>
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Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4> Fill your highball glass completely with ice cubes. Using fresh, clear ice will not only keep your cocktail colder longer but also prevent unwanted flavors from affecting the drink. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4> Add vodka, white rum, gin, silver tequila, triple sec, and Midori to your cocktail shaker. Measure each spirit precisely - the balance of alcohols is critical to achieve the authentic Tokyo Ice Tea flavor profile. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4> Add fresh lemon juice and simple syrup to the shaker. The acidity of fresh juice is essential to balance the sweetness of the Midori and cut through the multiple spirits. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4> Fill your shaker 2/3 full with ice. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker frosts over. This vigorous shaking properly chills and slightly dilutes the cocktail, creating a smoother texture while integrating the diverse ingredients. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4> Strain the mixture into your prepared ice-filled highball glass, leaving about 2cm of space at the top. The ice in the glass will continue to chill the drink while slowing dilution. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4> Top with a splash of lemon-lime soda (about 30ml) to add effervescence. Pour slowly down the side of the glass to maintain the carbonation and create a slight layering effect. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4> Gently stir once with a bar spoon to integrate the soda without losing all the bubbles. You'll notice the cocktail maintaining its vibrant emerald green color, the signature characteristic of a Tokyo Ice Tea. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4> Garnish with a slice of lemon and lime, positioning them on the rim of the glass or floating on top. This not only adds visual appeal but also provides additional citrus aromatics when sipping. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 9</h4> Serve immediately while the drink is perfectly chilled and the carbonation is at its peak. A properly made Tokyo Ice Tea should have a bright green color and balanced flavor despite its high alcohol content. </li> </ol>

Chef’s Notes

A few helpful details for making this recipe.

Why is this green cocktail called a Tokyo Ice Tea?

This vibrant cocktail earned its name from the addition of Midori, a Japanese melon liqueur that gives it the distinctive green colour. While following the "Long Island" formula of multiple spirits, the Midori connection to Japan inspired the "Tokyo" moniker, differentiating it from other variants.

What's the difference between a Long Island Iced Tea and this green version?

The key difference is the addition of Midori melon liqueur instead of cola, giving the Tokyo variant its striking green colour and sweet melon flavour. Both cocktails contain the same five base spirits, but the Tokyo version has a fruitier profile with lemon-lime soda providing the effervescence.

Can I make a less alcoholic version of this emerald cocktail?

Yes, you can create a lighter version by reducing each spirit to 10ml instead of 15ml, increasing the soda portion, or replacing one or two spirits with additional Midori. For a mocktail alternative, combine melon syrup, citrus juices, and lemon-lime soda.

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