NASCAR spritz. Hobo Negroni. Trailer park spritz. All of these charming nicknames describe the same drink, which, as you might be able to guess, has some pretty humble roots. We’re talking about the Spaghett, a beer-based cocktail that’s quickly become a top contender for 2025’s drink of the summer.
But isn’t the cocktail of the summer the Hugo Spritz?, you may ask. Well, we’re making the case that these fizzy libations will be sharing the crown this year. After all, the stately Hugo is a markedly upscale bevvie that absolutely emanates elegance: Invented in Italy, it’s an effervescent, country club-approved mixture of sparkling wine, elderflower liqueur, and mint. In comparison, the Spaghett is a bootleg Aperol Spritz that’s beloved by service industry veterans and proud penny-pinchers who love a down and dirty drink that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Are you a sucker for rag-tag underdogs working against all odds to make a name for themselves? We’ll explain why this cheeky cocktail might be for you.
What is a Spaghett?
A Spaghett calls for three ingredients — two simple, one fancy. To craft the drink, you’ll need a Miller High Life (yep, the champagne of beers), Aperol, and lemon juice. Simply pour off about two ounces of the beer, then add a glug of Aperol and a squeeze of lemon into the bottle.
This crisp concoction was invented by Baltimore bartender Reed Cahill at Wet City Brewery in 2016. The inspiration behind the Spaghett was the venerated Aperol Spritz, but Cahill’s version is an irreverent, unapologetically cheap version of the summery Italian classic. (And yes, the name is also a reference to that Tim & Eric sketch.)
Why is the Spaghett popular in summer 2025?
Whether you like it or not, the Spaghett is making a splash this year. According to Business Insider, “Data from the payments platform Square shows that orders for Spaghetts in the first half of 2025 are up by 65 percent from last year, and since 2022, Spaghett orders are up by 1000 percent.”
Business Insider posits that the rise of the Spaghett is a “recession indicator.” For the majority of 2025, economists and TikTok creators alike have been puzzling — jokingly or seriously — over small, subtle signs that the U.S. is bound for an imminent economic crisis. Think the Hemline Index: That old theory that the length of skirts reflects specific economic conditions. Short skirts allegedly come back into style during economic highs, while hemlines drop during recessions. Lately, everyone from your professor friend to your 19-year-old nephew is seeing these little tide-turning indicators everywhere — even on happy hour menus. (For another example of how Americans’ consumption tracks with bigger-picture trends, see the Iced Coffee Index.)
Arguably, the increased popularity of a cheap drink that’s remarkably easy to make at home could be a sign that consumers are scrimping on luxuries. After all, most of us are stressed enough about grocery costs, never mind our cocktail budgets. Of course, it could simply be that Spaghett aficionados genuinely enjoy the slightly fruity, tart, and bitter notes of the new summer sipper. Either way, it’s clear the drink has secured its place as this season’s affordable go-to refreshment.
