The Rum Line

I cannot leave here without a mention of this. Even though it is the first day of fall, FINALLY, some warm Indian Summer days are ahead. Many of us still might want to sip on a nice, tall cool one as summer sets sail.

Shelter Island is a haven for a lot of things and its seclusive nature proved very helpful for a few early settlers. The first Europeans to settle here came in the mid-1600's and were wealthy sugar merchants from Barbados seeking the stands of white oak to use for their barrels. With oaks everywhere, the setting couldn't be more ideal. Soon, SI became part of the infamous rum line that built New England. I am sure a few other spirited liquid assets (remember the hundreds of potato farms...vodka with your potato chowder, anyone?) ran along with the rum and that a fair amount of tasting went on here, too. My favorite beach, Bootleggers Alley, was a big drop point...nice and isolated.

And so, I thought this would be an appropriate beverage to share today. Brace yourself. There is no tea in Long Island Iced Tea. This is fully-loaded, very spirited and rum rich. As I leave this part of the world, here is a tip of the glass to a famous beverage. Happy Thursday! Happy Fall!

Long Island Iced Tea

2 cups ice cubes
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce gin
1 ounce white rum
1 ounce white tequila
1/2 ounce Triple Sec
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup cola, or to taste (whoa...hard to believe!)
2 lemon wedges


Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the vodka, gin, rum, tequila, Triple Sec, and lemon juice into the shaker. Cover and shake vigorously to combine and chill. Pour the mixture, ice and all, into 2 glasses or beer mugs and top off with the cola. Garnish with lemon wedges. Serves 2.