Iced Tea Classic Cocktail

This cocktail (from Salon's summer cocktail contest) sounds fantastic. I think we need to make this for sippin on Labor Day weekend.

Iced Tea Classic

Submitted by: Emily Whetstone, New York

Emily writes: "The inspiration for this cocktail is traditional iced tea with lemon. The prep is a bit complicated, but so worth it:

1 to 2 parts Earl Grey-infused vodka
2 parts lemon soda (Editor's note: We used Limonata)
a sprig of mint
a thinly sliced lemon
a splash of simple syrup (optional)

To make Earl Grey-infused vodka: For a 750 ml bottle, steep 4 tea bags for four to five hours (or until it's brewed-tea color; don't let it sit too long, or it will get bitter and tannic).

To construct cocktail: Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour one to two parts vodka (depending on how strong you like it [Editor's note: Uh ... we used two]) over ice. Add two parts lemon soda as a mixer. (Folks who like their iced tea sweet may want to add a splash of simple syrup [Editor's note: We didn't]). Add a sprig of crushed mint and one or two thinly sliced rounds of lemon as a garnish. It looks lovely.

How many is too many? Well, how many shots of vodka can you handle? These taste like real iced tea and go down easy, so watch out."

Salon taster comments: "Unbelievable," "almost too much of a good thing," "nice spice to it," "cool and lemony and tangy," "great for everyday sipping" and "the best."