12 Best Tea Drinks With Alcohol

Looking for the best boozy tea drinks with alcohol for your next gathering? We’ve compiled enough hot and cold tea drinks with alcohol to make any event merry.

A hot cup of tea or an ice-cold glass of sweet tea is a regular choice at my house, depending on the season and the weather. But sometimes, tea just doesn’t hit the spot; I need something a wee bit stronger, especially when I know I’m expecting company. Adding alcohol to tea, both hot and cold, has a long history, so there are many possibilities to choose from.

Here are 12 boozy tea recipes with a little sauce added to make any tea party a little brighter. And if the house is a rockin you might be interested in reading about the best tea to help me relax for afterwards!

1. Hot Toddies

Hot toddies are wonderful when you’re feeling under the weather, but their health benefits are not all that’s on offer. Steaming mugs of this concoction are a perfect accompaniment to small intimate events like a book club meeting or date night in front of a roaring fire.

Here’s how to make this simple, comforting drink:

• Make a pot of black tea and pour it into large mugs until they’re three-quarters full.
• Add a drizzle of honey, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a shot of whiskey into each mug.
• Add a lemon wedge to each mug and serve immediately.

2. Rummy Tea

A rummy tea is technically a type of hot toddy, but it’s so tasty it deserves its own name and entry.

• Make a pot of tea and pour it into large mugs until they’re three-quarters full.
• To each mug, add a drizzle of honey, a splash of milk, and a shot of rum.
• Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

3. Irish Chai

This is another great cold-weather drink. It’s perfect after a brisk walk on a blustery day; the spices are warming, and the creamy liqueur is nice and filling.

• Brew a pot of chai tea and pour it into mugs.
• Instead of milk and honey, top each mug with a generous shot of Irish Cream.

4. Chamomile Gin

This easy gin cocktail is sometimes called “Baby Takes A Nap” because of its gentle, soothing quality. Chamomile pairs wonderfully with the herbaceous flavor of good gin.

• Brew a cup of chamomile tea.
• Add a shot of gin and a drizzle of honey, and drink warm.

5. Green Tea Sake

Green tea and sake go together like milk and cookies or peanut butter and jelly. Use our iced green tea recipe to make this delicious iced tea cocktail.

• Make a batch of iced green tea.
• Add eight ounces of sake to the pitcher and stir.
• Serve over ice, garnished with fresh mint sprigs.

6. Pomegranate Tea Punch

Need a fast, refreshing drink to serve a crowd at happy hour? Try this fizzy tea punch!

• Add one quart of chilled sweet tea to a large bowl.
• Add half a gallon of ginger ale to the mix.
• Pour in one cup of pomegranate juice and one cup of orange juice.
• Finally, add two cups of vodka.
• Float orange slices on top and serve ice cold in festive cups.

7. Earl Grey Vodka

Vodka is great for infusing. Its neutral taste allows you to impart delicate flavors into the alcohol. You can use it in many different cocktail recipes for fresh takes on old-fashioned drinks.

• Pour a cup of vodka into a jar.
• Add three bags of Earl Grey tea and cover the jar with a tight-fitting lid.
• Let the jar sit for eight hours or overnight until the vodka turns a lovely deep amber color.
• Remove the tea bags and store your vodka in the fridge.

This tea-infused vodka makes fantastic vodka tonics! You might also be interested in our hard kombucha recipe.

8. Hibiscus Margaritas

The tart flavor and deep red color of hibiscus tea make it perfect as a base for margaritas, giving them a refreshingly sweet and sour taste. This simple syrup flavored with herbal tea is quick to make and can be stored in the fridge for later.

• Boil together two cups of water and one cup of agave syrup.
• Turn off the heat, add four bags of hibiscus tea, and cover.
• Let steep for about five to seven minutes. It should turn a deep, dark red.
• Remove the tea bags and pour the syrup into a glass jar.

To make margaritas, add two ounces of this simple syrup, two ounces of grapefruit juice, and two ounces of tequila to a shaker and get to business. Pour over ice.

9. Sparkling Watermelon Tea

Nothing says summertime like fresh watermelon. This warm-weather drink is not only sweet and soothing, but it also packs a nice punch.

• Scoop out the insides of a small watermelon and liquefy it in a blender.
• Pour two cups of the juice into a pot, add one cup of sugar, and boil until dissolved.
• Pour the juice into a pitcher, and add two cups of cold black tea, two cups of sparkling water, and a cup of vodka.
• Chill until cold and serve over ice.

10. Green Tea Highball

For a refreshing cocktail on a hot day, a green tea highball might just hit the spot.

• Brew a two-ounce serving of green tea and allow it to cool.
• Combine your green tea with equal amounts of Japanese whiskey in a glass.
• Top the drink off with some sparkling water.
• Add ice cubes and stir.

11. Mint Tea Mojito

For a twist on a mojito, you can combine white rum and mint tea to retain the tea flavor.

• Add five mint tea bags to a large tempered-glass pitcher and fill it three-quarters full with hot water.
• Allow the tea to steep for three minutes, and remove the tea bags.
• Add one cup of white sugar, brown sugar, or a sweetener of choice – or more or less to taste.
• Once the sugar has dissolved, add one-quarter cup of fresh lime juice.
• Pour in one cup of white rum or more or less to taste.
• Allow the mixture to cool in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
• Garnish with ice, a fresh lemon slice, and mint leaves before serving.

12. Hibiscus Mulled Wine

You might have noticed the tart notes of hot hibiscus tea are reminiscent of a comforting mulled wine. You can have the best of both worlds by combining these two drinks.

• Place a large pot of water on the stove, and fill it halfway with water.
• Allow the water to simmer, and add a quarter cup of hibiscus leaves.
• Let the hibiscus sit for five minutes.
• Then, add a bottle of red wine to the mixture. Also, add orange slices, ten cloves, five pieces of star anise, and a tablespoon of cinnamon.
• Add a quarter cup of a sweetener of choice, like brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey.
• Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes.
• Strain the drink before serving it in tempered glasses.
• Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice.

Tea Drinks With Alcohol: FAQs