When my friend handed me a glass of his homemade Three Mile Island cocktail last summer, I was suspicious – not just because of the name (which sounds like trouble) but because I could see him grinning before I even took a sip. After a round or two at a neighborhood barbecue, though, I understood. The drink somehow manages to taste dangerously smooth for something packing this much punch, and it’s since snuck its way into my list of “crowd-pleasers that almost always require a warning.”
The Three Mile Island is basically the slightly rebellious cousin of a Long Island Iced Tea. It shares that classic trick – hiding high-octane spirits under a sweet-and-citrusy, completely innocent-looking surface. If you’ve made a Long Island before, you’ll recognize the build. But the real fun is that moment when someone tries it, laughs about the name, then looks at their glass in mock horror because, wow, it’s strong.
Strength & Profile
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Ingredients:
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce rum (I usually use white, but gold works too)
- 1 ounce tequila (silver is my go-to)
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce sour mix
- Cola – to top (just enough for color)
- Lemon wedge (for garnish)
- Plenty of ice
How to Make It:
Fill a cocktail shaker about halfway with ice. Pour in all the spirits and the sour mix. I like to shake it a bit longer than most recipes suggest – maybe 15 seconds – just to get it frosty cold and well blended.
Strain the mix into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Top with a quick glug of cola until it gets that deep amber “iced tea” color – don’t overdo it, or you’ll drown the good stuff. Squeeze a lemon wedge over the top, drop it in, and serve.
Honestly, the most important advice is to pace yourself. The combo of sweet-and-sour and cola is almost too easy to drink, so it’s worth setting ground rules with friends (especially after my neighbor Tom ended up forgetting half the party after round three). The citrus and cola mellow out the bite of the spirits, making this dangerously sessionable.
I love serving these at anything outdoorsy – grill nights, bonfires, tailgates. There’s something about the sweet, boozy kick that holds up next to barbecue or even spicy snacks, and it definitely lightens the mood. If you’re cooking, watch out: one of these and you might start getting creative with the burgers.
Looking for a milder spin? You can always cut the alcohol amounts in half and fill out the glass with more cola. Even better, if you want a completely no-proof version for kids or designated drivers, a mix of lemonade, iced tea, and a splash of cola does a surprisingly good job mimicking the flavor and look.
All that said, this probably isn’t the drink to impress on a first date or serve at a formal dinner. But for easygoing get-togethers where fun is the priority, the Three Mile Island is as memorable as its name – just consider serving water on the side!
