The Blue Motorcycle is a Long Island Ice Tea variation that has gained popularity over the years. It’s generally beloved by bartenders and enthusiasts, as it requires little to no skill, knowledge, and equipment to make. Also, a Blue Motorcycle is eye-catching, delicious, and refreshing, so if you’re looking for a signature drink to serve at your next summer party, I’ve got an awesome recipe for you.
Blue Motorcycle is a cocktail that has rum, gin, blue curaçao, tequila, vodka, and lemon-lime soda. The beverage is renowned for its signature bright blue color and potent punch. Blue Motorcycle is one of the strongest cocktails you can drink, as it contains all four major spirits.Â
Even though a Blue Motorcycle is one of the easiest cocktails to make, learning a bit about its history, ingredients, and how to best serve it can help you get that perfect, professional-looking glass that’s bound to impress even your pickiest guests. If you’ve got some time on your hands, read on.
What’s a Blue Motorcycle?
A Blue Motorcycle is an American cocktail that combines all four major spirits: vodka, rum, tequila, and gin. Due to the blue curaçao, the drink takes on the characteristic vibrant blue color that gives it its name.Â
The cocktail is often seen as a variation of the classic Long Island Ice Tea due to the similarity in ingredients. However, while the latter would be topped off with cola and triple sec, its newer (and bluer) variation calls for Sprite and blue curaçao instead.
As a result, Blue Motorcycle is a lighter, more citrusy alternative than its predecessor, making it better suited for summertime parties and gatherings. But like Long Island Ice Tea, AMF (I’ll be using Blue Motorcycle and AMF interchangeably throughout this article) is just as easy to make at home.
However, if you plan on serving Blue Motorcycle to a bunch of night partygoers, make sure to keep an eye on your guests because (as you might’ve imagined by now) the cocktail is an alcohol and sugar bomb that’ll get everyone buzzing.
Alcohol Percentage
A Blue Motorcycle contains a whopping 22% alcohol percentage (or five times more than your average beer bottle). Therefore, you don’t want anyone drinking these in excess. It’s best to move on to lighter or non-alcoholic beverages after the first glass or two.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a quick, delicious way to get a buzz, I can’t think of a better cocktail. Even though a Blue motorcycle contains five different liquors, it still goes down much smoother than you’d think. But if you’re a fan of sweeter cocktails that taste more like fruit punch than an alcoholic drink, AMF isn’t the best option for you.
If you’re an amateur bartender, a Blue motorcycle is an excellent drink to practice your skills. The best thing about the cocktail is that it’s highly customizable and allows for a large margin of error. This means that even if your hand slips once or twice while pouring the liquor, the final product will still taste fantastic (and people who don’t know better won’t be able to tell the difference).
Also, if you prefer one of the liquors over the others, you’re free to play with the proportions mentioned in the following recipe and make this cocktail your own.
History of the Blue Motorcycle
Compared to most classics, Blue Motorcycle is a relatively new invention. The cocktail is believed to have originated in 1970s New York when it was created as a summer version of the Long Island Ice Tea. Over the years, it started becoming better known in bars, restaurants, and hotels across North America and Europe.
However, Blue Motorcycle didn’t achieve its peak popularity until the mid-2010s, as a new generation of young adults discovered the convenience and delicious taste of the vibrant blue cocktail.
Even though Blue Motorcycle was widely viewed as just another Long Island Ice Tea variation, the cocktail has taken a life of its own. This is partly because the cola to Sprite and triple sec to blue curaçao swap can significantly affect not only the beverage’s appearance but also its taste.
As a result, it’s safe to say that AMF provides a drinking experience that can’t be compared with anything else you’ve ever had before.
What You Need To Make a Blue Motorcycle
Before going through the following recipe, make sure you have the right equipment and ingredients to make a mind-blowing Blue Motorcycle. Even though, as mentioned, the recipe doesn’t call for much, it’s still a good idea to learn more about what you’re getting into before promising your friends a delicious glass of AMF at your next gathering.
As far as equipment goes, you’ll only need a cocktail shaker and a glass of your choice. However, a tall bar glass usually works best (more on this in a moment). The former will allow you to measure all spirits included in this recipe as precisely as possible, while the latter will help you put the perfect Blue Motorcycle serving size, which usually consists of 300-400 ml (10-13.5 oz).
Also, you can always add a stainless steel straw to the glass. I strongly suggest you don’t skip this step, as adding a straw makes it easier for a tipsy bunch to drink without making a mess all over the party floor. Plus, it allows your guests to pace themselves while sipping such a potent beverage.
Garnishes
On another note, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got your hands on the usual add-ons and garnishes, such as:
- Cubed ice
- Lemon wedges
- Maraschino cherries
Keep in mind that the exact quantities you’ll need will depend on the number of servings you’re planning to make. Additionally, ice can be added or omitted depending on your preferences. However, the classic Blue Motorcycle recipe calls for it.
Ingredients
I’ve already mentioned the ingredients you’ll need throughout this article, and I’ll discuss them in the following recipe as well. However, before busting out your shaker, you’ll want to make sure you have access to:
- Vodka
- Gin
- Tequila
- Rum
- Blue Curaçao
- Sprite, or 7up
While the garnishes are optional, the above ingredients are all essential when making an authentic Blue Motorcycle.
You’ll notice I didn’t provide specific quantities for the above. That’s because, as I said earlier, you’re free to adjust the proportions according to your personal preferences — as long as the five core ingredients are still there. You definitely don’t want to exclude the blue curaçao: It’s what gives the beverage its distinctive look, after all.
Most of your job is done after you’ve gathered all your ingredients, garnishes, and equipment. The actual cocktail-making process should only take around 5-7 minutes, depending on the number of people you plan to serve. If you’re making individually poured and garnished cocktails for a crowd, the process might take a bit longer.
Before moving on to the next section, I want to remind you that when making a Blue Motorcycle, you should never use a blender to mix all of the ingredients. That’s because fizzy soda and alcohol in a blender is a recipe for a small explosion. Therefore, only use the equipment to mix the spirits, and only add the Sprite or 7Up afterward.
How To Serve a Blue Motorcycle
A Blue Motorcycle is as easy to serve as it is to make. If you want to give your guests the full AMF drinking experience, you’ll want to serve it in a tall, narrow bar glass filled with ice. This summer drink is best garnished with fresh lemon slices and maraschino cherries. But, as I mentioned, you can get creative when it comes to garnishes.
The great thing about a Blue Motorcycle is that it can be served in just about any glass. If you’re not overly worried about impressing your guests with your cocktail presentation, just go with what you already have on hand.
Blue Motorcycle Variations
If you like the concept of a Blue Motorcycle, but the drink doesn’t fit your preferences, you can choose one of these delicious variations that are just as enjoyable and impressive as the OG.
- Long Island Ice Tea. As I’ve mentioned, the Blue motorcycle is a Long Island Ice Tea variation. Both of them are delicious cocktails that get you buzzed fast. Swap the lemon-lime soda for coke and the blue curaçao for triple sec, and you’ll have your very own Long Island Ice Tea.
- Virgin Blue Motorcycle. Whether you’re at a family-friendly summer gathering or want to make the designated drivers feel as included as possible, this virgin variation of the cocktail is just the recipe you’ve been looking for. Even though (due to the number of spirits) making the OG drink non-alcoholic may seem impossible, all you’ll need to make the Virgin Blue Motorcycle is lime juice, blue cream soda, and pineapple juice.
Blue Motorcycle Recipe
Awesome Blue Motorcycle Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Bar Glass
Ingredients
- .5 oz Gin
- .5 oz Rum
- .5 oz Tequila
- .5 oz Vodka
- .5 oz Blue Curaçao
- 8 oz Lemon Lime Soda (Sprite or 7UP)
- 1 Lemon Wedge (Garnish)
- 1 Maraschino Cherry (Garnish)
- Ice
Instructions
- Add Ice, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Vodka, and Blue Curaçao to Cocktail Shaker
- Shake Well Until Ingredients are Fully Mixed (10-15 Seconds)
- Pour Entire Contents of Cocktail Shaker into Bar Glass (Including Ice)
- Top with Lemon Lime Soda
- Garnish with Lemon Wedge and Maraschino Cherry
Bartender Notes
- The difference between the Blue Motorcycle and the AMF is the AMF also contains Sweet and Sour Mix.
Final Cocktail Thoughts
Blue Motorcycle (or AMF) is a vibrant blue cocktail that originated in New York in 1972. The drink closely resembles the classic Long Island Ice Tea. It features five different spirits that make it one of the most potent cocktails on any bartender’s menu.
The light, refreshing drink requires little experience, skill, and equipment. In short, it’s the perfect cocktail even for novice hosts to serve their guests during a summertime gathering or party.
Similar Party Cocktails
AMF
A slight variation of this recipe, try the original AMF cocktail.
Jungle Juice
Jungle juice is the ultimate party cocktail. You can make this delicious drink ahead of time in bulk, which will impress any guest or taste bud.
Incredible Hulk
This tasty superhero themed cocktail will make you want to smash your thirst.
