Alright, so the other day, I was in the mood for something with a bit of a kick, you know? Had some folks coming over later, and I figured, why not whip up some Long Island Iced Teas? But I wanted to try something a little different from the usual. I remembered I had a bottle of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, and a lightbulb went off. Why not see how that plays in a Long Island? So, I decided to give it a go and document my little experiment.
What I Used – The Lineup
First things first, I had to gather all the bits and pieces. Went on a bit of a treasure hunt in my liquor cabinet and the fridge. Here’s what I pulled out for this particular adventure:
- Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum: This was the main event, the reason for the experiment.
- Vodka: Just a standard, no-frills bottle I had on hand.
- Gin: Same deal, nothing too fancy, just a decent London Dry.
- Tequila: I used a silver (blanco) tequila. Didn’t want anything too aged to overpower things.
- Triple Sec: Your basic orange liqueur.
- Sour Mix: Now, sometimes I make my own, but for this round, I just used a pre-made bottle. Speed was key.
- Cola: Just a splash, for that classic color and a tiny bit of sweetness.
- Lemons: For wedges, you know, to make it look like I know what I’m doing.
- Lots of Ice: Crucial. Nobody likes a warm Long Island.
Putting It All Together – My Process
Okay, so I got my trusty cocktail shaker. If you don’t have one, a big glass and a long spoon for stirring will do in a pinch, but shaking gets it colder, I reckon. I loaded that shaker up with a good amount of ice. Seriously, don’t skimp on the ice.
Then came the spirits. I’m not one for super precise measurements when I’m just mixing at home, more of a ‘that looks about right’ kind of pour. I went with roughly half a shot to maybe three-quarters of a shot for each. So, in went the Captain Morgan, then the vodka, the gin, the tequila, and finally the triple sec. All into the shaker with the ice.
Next up was the sour mix. I probably added a good full shot of that, maybe a little more. It needs to balance all that alcohol, otherwise, it’s just a glass of firewater.
Popped the lid on the shaker – made sure it was on tight. Trust me, you only make the mistake of a loose lid once. Then I gave it a real good, energetic shake for about 15-20 seconds. You’ll feel the shaker get frosty cold. That’s when you know it’s ready.
I grabbed a tall glass, filled it with fresh ice (always fresh ice in the glass, not the watery stuff from the shaker). Then I strained the mixture from the shaker over the fresh ice.
To finish it off, I topped it with just a small splash of cola. Just enough to get that nice amber, iced-tea color. You don’t want to drown it in cola, or it just tastes like a confused rum and coke.
Cut a wedge of lemon, gave it a quick squeeze over the drink, and then dropped it in. Looked pretty decent, if I do say so myself.
The End Result – How’d It Go?
So, the moment of truth. I took a sip. And you know what? It was actually pretty darn good! The Captain Morgan definitely brought a different vibe to it. That little hint of spice from the rum came through and made it a bit more interesting than your standard Long Island. It was strong, no doubt about it – these drinks always are. But the sour mix and that tiny bit of cola did their job and kept it from being overwhelming.
The folks who came over seemed to enjoy it too. It’s one of those drinks that definitely gets the evening started. It’s not a subtle sipper, more of a “hello, I’ve arrived” kind of drink. I wouldn’t have too many, but as a first round, it hit the spot.
Overall, a successful experiment. The Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea is a keeper in my book for when I want that familiar punch with a little something extra. Definitely worth a try if you’ve got the ingredients lying around.
