long island iced tea substitute

donnamarie02

We are having "HIS" and "HERS" signature drinks at the wedding. Our venue quoted us $6.00 a drink. I just recently told them for the HIS drink we wanted Long Island Iced Teas. They said b/c it has so much liquor in the drink it would be $9.00 a drink.

So my question is does anyone know something similar in taste to a long island iced tea? This is FI's favorite drink but we both want something that will stick w/the $6.00 a drink. So we need to find something w/main liquor.

We like that it's not strong and taste pretty yummy!

Any suggestions(except Jack and Coke types) would be great
TIA

TashaK24

Yeah, I probably wouldn't recommend long island iced teas... those puppies are strong!  What about something like an old fashioned (bourbon, scotch or whiskey with bitters and soda)?  Are you for sure wanting a long drink? A whisky ginger is also delicious, which is just whisky and gingerale, but one of my favs!

donnamarie02

Thanks we'll have to try out the whiskey ginger

rknox88

Just only have one liquor in the Long Island.  There is usually rum, vodka, gin, and tequilla plus triple sec, Coke, and sweet and sour mix.  choose just one liquor to put in (I would say rum) and it should taste relatively the same-probably better because you are eliminating alcohol.  This is probably a better way to go anyway because you don't want your guests completely wasted after the cocktail hour.  Long Islands are super strong.

rknox88

Out of curiosity what is the "her" drink?  FI and I are doing a similar thing at our wedding and I am just curious what you are picking!

donnamarie02

The venue is going to create something that matches one of our colors. My only requirments were fruity and vodka

MVJP10

Don't cheap out, get the long islands!

I Want Cake

You could eliminate the tequila from the Long Island and it would taste identical.  I used to bartend and have made it both ways without anyone ever noticing.  You do need the mix of the vodka/gin/rum to make it taste right, though.  Eliminating 2 more of those would basically be serving rum/vodka/gin Cokes, which you didn't want.  But keep in mind a Long Island is not in any way "not strong."  It's pretty much the strongest drink you can order that has mixer in it, but you don't necessarily taste it if it's made right.

If that's still too expensive, I'm a fan of the classic "old man" drinks like Old Fashioneds and Rusty Nails.  A rusty nail is just scotch and Drambouie on ice.  Manhattans and Rob Roys are also a more manly counterpart to a martini (not that a classic gin or vokda martini is girly in any way).  Sidecars are another classic that never goes out of style, but can be a pain to make.  It's hard not to feel kinda swanky drinking an old man drink.