Buzzbox Long Island 4Pk is a ready-to-drink Long Island Iced Tea cocktail packaged as four 200ml cans at 14% ABV. This expression earned a Gold Medal at the 2018 SIP Awards and followed it up with the SIP Awards Consumer Choice Award in 2019, establishing it as one of the more recognized RTD cocktails on the market. Quick Facts: ABV: 14% | Origin: California, USA | Style: Ready-to-Drink Cocktail | Brand: BuzzBallz / Buzzbox Production & Heritage Buzzbox is the canned cocktail line from BuzzBallz, the company founded by Merrilee Kick in 2009 that has become one of the fastest-growing RTD brands in the United States. The Long Island expression blends house-made ultra-premium American gin and vodka with imported St. Croix oaked rum, handmade sweet-and-sour, and triple sec. What distinguishes this from competing canned Long Islands is the finishing touch: a splash of hand-brewed caramelized black tea, which replaces the typical cola element with a more nuanced, tea-forward character. Tasting Notes Aroma: The nose opens with a rich tea-toned quality, followed by distinct cola-like sweetness and a subtle undercurrent of citrus from the triple sec. Taste: On the palate, genuine black tea and orange notes from the triple sec arrive first, followed by a mid-palate where the sweet-and-sour mix integrates with the rum, gin, and vodka. The blend evolves with each sip, balancing citrus brightness, moderate sweetness, and a measured alcohol presence that belies the 14% ABV. Finish: Fresh juniper from the gin lingers alongside the caramelized tea, giving the finish a slightly dry, herbal quality. It wraps up clean without excessive sweetness or harshness. How to Drink Buzzbox Long Island Serve chilled directly from the can or poured over ice in a highball glass — no mixing required. For those who want to customize, try these approaches: Extended Long Island: Pour over a full glass of ice and top with a splash of cola to stretch the drink and amplify the classic Long Island profile. Citrus Lift: Add a squeeze of fresh lemon and a lemon wheel garnish to brighten the citrus notes already present in the blend. Arnold Palmer Twist: Top with fresh-brewed lemonade to lean into the tea character and create a spiked Arnold Palmer variation. Best For Beach trips, pool days, and outdoor gatherings where glassware and bartending tools are impractical Stocking a cooler for tailgating or barbecues with a cocktail option beyond beer and seltzers Introducing someone to Long Island Iced Tea in a consistent, pre-portioned format Keeping a grab-and-go cocktail option in the refrigerator for weeknight convenience Frequently Asked Questions What does Buzzbox Long Island taste like? It delivers a layered Long Island Iced Tea profile led by black tea and citrus orange notes, supported by a balanced blend of gin, vodka, and oaked rum with moderate sweetness and a clean, juniper-tinged finish. How does Buzzbox Long Island compare to Straightaway cocktails? Both brands compete in the premium RTD space, but Buzzbox Long Island distinguishes itself with its hand-brewed caramelized black tea and multi-spirit blend at 14% ABV, while Straightaway tends to focus on simpler spirit-forward formulations with fewer components. Is Buzzbox Long Island good for parties? The single-serve 200ml cans are well-suited for parties because they eliminate the need for mixing and provide consistent flavor and portion control across every drink served. Where is Buzzbox Long Island made? Buzzbox Long Island is produced in California under the BuzzBallz brand, a company originally founded in Texas by Merrilee Kick in 2009 that has grown into one of the leading RTD cocktail producers in the United States. What foods pair well with Buzzbox Long Island? Grilled shrimp skewers complement the citrus and tea notes well. Fried chicken tenders work against the drink's sweetness. Fish tacos with lime slaw echo the citrus profile. Charcuterie boards with mild cheeses let the cocktail's complexity come through. Lemon bars mirror the sweet-and-sour balance. What sizes does Buzzbox Long Island come in? The standard format is a 4-pack of 200ml cans, designed as single-serve portions for convenient, on-the-go consumption. Is Buzzbox Long Island worth the price? Buzzbox Long Island positions as a mid-range premium RTD cocktail, and the use of imported St. Croix oaked rum alongside house-made gin and vodka, combined with its SIP Awards Gold Medal recognition, places it above many mass-market competitors in both ingredient quality and flavor complexity. Why Buzzbox Long Island? The 2018 SIP Awards Gold Medal and 2019 Consumer Choice Award validate what the formula suggests: this is an RTD Long Island built with more care than most. The use of hand-brewed caramelized black tea in place of standard cola flavoring is a production choice that meaningfully separates it from competitors relying on artificial tea or cola additives. Drinkhacker awarded it 4.5 stars specifically for its authentic Long Island Iced Tea flavor, a difficult benchmark for a pre-mixed, shelf-stable product. For anyone who wants a genuine multi-spirit cocktail experience without a bar setup, the Buzzbox Long Island 4-pack delivers a credible version of one of the most complex classic cocktails in a portable, no-fuss format.
