Polar Boston Ice Tea Party

Boston Ice Tea Party from Polar is sold as a mixer, so it belongs on the bar cart next to soda water and juice rather than on the spirits shelf. The name points to an iced-tea-style profile. Drinks like this usually combine a tea-like bitterness with citrus or sweet notes and a lightly fizzy texture, but check the label for the exact flavor, sweetness, and carbonation before you build a recipe around it. Serve it cold, straight from the fridge or over plenty of ice. Cold keeps the carbonation lively and stops the sweetness from reading as syrupy. As a mixer, it works best in tall, long drinks where it makes up most of the volume. A highball or Collins glass filled with ice suits it, because the tall shape keeps bubbles in the drink longer than a wide tumbler would. Styles like this usually pair well with clear or lightly aged spirits. Vodka, white rum, gin, and bourbon are the usual starting points for iced-tea-style long drinks. A simple ratio is one part spirit to three or four parts mixer, finished with a lemon wedge or an orange slice. Add the mixer last and stir once, gently, to preserve the fizz. Tasted on its own over ice, it also works as a non-alcoholic option, and it goes well with grilled chicken, burgers, and other cookout food.