Blue Motorcycle

The Blue Motorcycle is a vibrant and powerful cocktail famous for its electric blue color and high alcohol content. It shares its DNA with the Long Island Iced Tea, swapping triple sec for blue curaçao and cola for lemon-lime soda. The result is a surprisingly smooth, sweet-tart drink with a prominent citrus flavor that can be dangerously easy to drink despite its strength. It's a popular choice for parties and nights out.
Blue Motorcycle

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Blue Motorcycle is classified as a cocktail, specifically belonging to the party drink category. It is a high-alcohol content drink often served at gatherings, bars, and clubs. It is known for its potent mix of spirits and vibrant color.

Serving

Served cold with ice in a tall Collins or Highball glass, this is a fairly large and potent drink with an alcohol content around 22% ABV.
Serving size
~240-300 ml / 8-10 oz
Alcohol content
~22-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Collins
Glass treatment
None

Backstory

Like many party drinks, the exact origin of the Blue Motorcycle is hazy and not well-documented. It's widely considered to be a variation of the Long Island Iced Tea, which gained popularity in the 1970s. The Blue Motorcycle likely emerged in the 1980s or 1990s as bartenders experimented with colorful liqueurs like blue curaçao to create visually appealing new drinks.
Origin
United States, likely 1980s-1990s. Its creation is not attributed to a specific person or establishment but is considered an evolution of the Long Island Iced Tea.

Blue Motorcycle

The Blue Motorcycle is most commonly known by its original name. However, it's often referred to as a Blue Long Island Iced Tea due to its striking similarity in ingredients and preparation to the classic Long Island Iced Tea, with the primary difference being the use of blue curaçao.
Original name
Blue Motorcycle
Alternative names
  • Blue Long Island Iced Tea
  • Blue Motorbike

Characteristics overview

This drink boasts a vibrant blue appearance with a sweet and sour citrus flavor, a light fizz, and a refreshing, crisp texture perfect for summer. Its boozy character is masked by the sweet and tart notes, leading to a clean finish.
Flavor
citrusy, sweet, tart, boozy, orange
Aroma
citrus, lemon-lime, sweet
Taste balance
sweet, sour
Aftertaste
clean, short, sweet
Fizziness
lightly fizzy, effervescent
Color appearance
vibrant blue, clear, bubbly
Texture
thin, crisp, bubbly
Seasonality
refreshing, summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

This is a high-intensity drink, dominated by sweetness and sourness from the citrus and liqueurs, with a significant alcoholic punch. The light carbonation from the soda provides a gentle lift.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This potent cocktail requires four base spirits—vodka, white rum, gin, and tequila—plus blue curaçao, fresh lemon juice, and a top of lemon-lime soda. The combination creates its signature color, flavor, and strength.
  • Vodka15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Standard 80-proof vodka works well.
  • White Rum15 ml / 0.5 oz
    A light, clean white rum is ideal.
  • Gin15 ml / 0.5 oz
    A classic London Dry gin is recommended.
  • Tequila Blanco15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Use a 100% agave silver tequila.
  • Blue Curaçao15 ml / 0.5 oz
    This provides the signature color and orange flavor.
  • Lemon Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Freshly squeezed is essential for best taste.
  • Lemon-Lime SodaTop up (~60 ml / 2 oz)
    Such as Sprite or 7-Up.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker to combine and chill the spirits and juice, along with a jigger for accurate measurements and a strainer. The drink is built in the shaker and then strained over ice.
  • Cocktail shaker for shaking
  • Jigger for measuring
  • Strainer for straining

Instructions

The method is straightforward: shake all ingredients except the soda with ice, strain into an ice-filled tall glass, and top with the soda. Garnish and serve immediately.
1. Fill a Collins or Highball glass with ice to chill.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
3. Add vodka, white rum, gin, tequila, blue curaçao, and fresh lemon juice to the shaker.
4. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled.
5. Strain the mixture from the shaker into the ice-filled Collins glass.
6. Top the drink with lemon-lime soda.
7. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a maraschino cherry.

Garnishing

A simple garnish of a fresh lemon wheel and a bright red maraschino cherry provides a nice color contrast against the blue drink. A cocktail pick can be used to present them neatly.
  • Lemon wheel and a maraschino cherry on a skewer

Dietary Information

This cocktail is typically free from caffeine, dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts, making it vegan and vegetarian-friendly. Most distilled spirits are gluten-free, but it's always best to check individual brands if you have a severe allergy.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a relatively high-calorie cocktail, averaging 260-300 kcal per serving. Most of its carbohydrates and sugar content comes from the blue curaçao and lemon-lime soda.
Calories
Averagely 260-300 kcal / 1088-1255 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 15-20 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 14-18 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This vibrant cocktail is perfect for lively social settings like parties, clubbing, or a fun night out with friends. Its refreshing citrus notes also make it a suitable choice for summer gatherings and barbecues.
  • Party
  • Night Out
  • Summer Gathering
  • Clubbing

Pairing suggestions

The Blue Motorcycle's sweet and tart profile pairs well with salty and savory foods. It's an excellent companion for party appetizers, fried foods like french fries and wings, or casual fare such as tacos and nachos.
  • Salty snacks
  • Party appetizers
  • Fried food like french fries or chicken wings
  • Tacos or nachos

The Blue Motorcycle: A High-Octane Ride

The Blue Motorcycle is a visually stunning and deceptively potent cocktail, perfect for parties and social gatherings. A direct descendant of the Long Island Iced Tea, it combines five different liquors with citrus and soda to create a vibrant blue drink that's both sweet and tart. While its high alcohol content demands respect, its refreshing taste makes it a memorable and popular choice for those looking for a fun and colorful drink.

Similar cocktails

Long Island Iced Tea

Uses triple sec instead of blue curaçao and is topped with cola instead of lemon-lime soda, resulting in an amber color and different flavor profile.

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