If you love Aperol and you love a cold beer on a hot day, this Spaghett cocktail is about to become your new favorite summer drink. It is a super fun beer bottle cocktail that combines the bitter orange flavor of Aperol with the crisp, light taste of Miller High Life, plus just a little squeeze of lemon juice to tie it all together. Think of it like a shandy meets an Aperol spritz, except way more fun and way easier to make.
You'll love this Spaghett cocktail
It's easy to make. This Spaghett cocktail truly could not be simpler. There is no cocktail shaker, no measuring cup, no special skills required. You drink down a bottle of beer, add two ingredients, and you are done. It is the most low-effort, high-reward summer cocktail you will ever make.
It's delicious. I know what you are thinking. Miller High Life? Really? Stay with me here. The self-proclaimed "champagne of beers" is actually the perfect base for this cocktail. The light, slightly sweet beer paired with the bitter orange Aperol and a splash of lemon juice creates this perfectly balanced, refreshing drink that is like a shandy but with way more personality. If you find traditional shandies too sweet, this is your cocktail.
It's such a great summer drink. The gorgeous orange color peeking out of the bottle, the casual beer bottle presentation, the bitter citrusy flavor. Everything about this Spaghett cocktail just screams summer. It is so fun to serve at backyard parties, cookouts, or really any occasion where you want a cold drink in hand.
Ingredients
Miller High Life Bottle. The original and official beer of the Spaghett cocktail! Miller High Life is light, crisp, and slightly sweet, which makes it the perfect canvas for the Aperol and lemon juice. Think of it as the beer version of prosecco in an Aperol spritz. The bottle format is key here because the whole trick of this cocktail is pouring your ingredients right into the neck of the bottle. So fun!
Aperol. Aperol is an Italian aperitif with a bright, bitter orange flavor and that iconic deep orange color. It is the ingredient that makes this Spaghett cocktail so unique and so delicious. If you love Aperol spritzes, you are going to love this. The Aperol brings a slightly bitter, citrusy depth to the beer that is incredibly refreshing.
Lemon Juice. Just a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice is all you need here. It adds a bright, zesty note that really pulls the whole cocktail together and balances out the bitterness of the Aperol. Fresh lemon is always best, so grab half a lemon and squeeze it right in!
How to make a Spaghett cocktail
Making a Spaghett cocktail is genuinely one of the easiest things you will ever do. Here's how:
- Drink your bottle of Miller High Life down to the label. You want the neck of the bottle completely empty so there is room to add your other ingredients. Think of this as the most fun step one of any cocktail recipe ever.
- Using a small funnel, pour in 1.5 oz of Aperol and 0.5 oz of fresh lemon juice. The Aperol will swirl down into the beer and create this gorgeous orange color that looks absolutely stunning in the bottle.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge on the bottle neck and enjoy! No need to stir or shake. Just pop on a lemon wedge, take a sip, and enjoy the most fun summer cocktail you have ever had.
Substitutions and variations
Want to put your own spin on the Spaghett drink? Here are a few easy swaps to try:
Aperol. If you love Aperol but want to try a slightly different flavor profile, you can swap the Aperol for Campari for a more intensely bitter, complex version of this cocktail. It is a little bolder and a little less sweet than the original Spaghett, but it is really delicious if you love a more spirit-forward drink.
Beer. Miller High Life is the classic choice, but you can absolutely use other beers here! A Hefeweizen-style beer works really beautifully in this recipe. Allagash White is a personal favorite and adds a lovely wheaty, slightly citrusy note that pairs perfectly with the Aperol. Any light beer will also work great if Miller High Life is not your thing. The key is keeping it light and crisp so it does not overpower the Aperol.
Citrus Juice. Fresh lemon juice is the traditional choice, but you can swap it for lime juice if you want something a little more tart and tropical, or orange juice if you want to lean into the citrus sweetness and complement the Aperol even more. All three work really well and give the Spaghett cocktail a slightly different personality!
FAQs
Why is it called Spaghett cocktail?
The Spaghett cocktail was created in 2016 at Wet City Brewery in Baltimore by bartender Reed Cahill. The name is a reference to a character from the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! on Adult Swim. It became a cult favorite and has been popping up at bars and backyard parties ever since. It is one of those drinks that sounds a little weird on paper but tastes absolutely incredible in practice!
What does a spaghett drink taste like?
The best way to describe a Spaghett cocktail is like a bitter shandy with a hint of citrusy sweetness.
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Spaghett Cocktail
If you love a good beer bottle cocktail and Aperol, you have got to try this Spaghett cocktail! It is arguably the perfect summer cocktail, that's like a twist on a shandy.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Miller High Life
- 1.5 oz Aperol
- ½ oz Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Drink your bottle of Miller High Life down to the label. You essentially want the neck of the bottle empty to fill with your other ingredients.
- Using a funnel, pour in 1.5 ounces of Aperol, and ½ ounce of lemon juice.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge, and enjoy!
Notes
Substitutions and variations
Beer. You can use any Hefeweisen style of beer, Allagash White is my personal favorite. You could also use any light beer.
Lemon Juice. If you can't use lemon, you can always use lime juice or orange juice.
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