Apple Pie syrup

It's also sometimes referred to as the hobo Negroni, and really, it is more delicious than to be expected. It's easy to pour, surprisingly prone to seasonal riffing with Simple Goodness Syrups like this Fall Apple Pie version, and doesn't even require washing a glass: it's the Spaghett.

In college I hung around an old crumbling house where the parties that happened in the basement (where else?) always began with a raucous sing along and wild dancing of "Sorry Miss Jackson, ooooh! I am for real!" on repeat, and much Miller Light was consumed. It was 2007, in North Portland, a place I chose for the excellent reputation and partial scholarship awarded by the private university I was attending and the Gilmore Girls-esque surroundings of the campus which, it should be noted, did not have the journalism program I was hoping to major in. More so, I chose it because my mom was sick, my family is firmly small town, West Coast, Washington state dwellers, and I was too afraid to navigate the big world and high debts of the schools of my dreams. 

So, in 2007, the basement always smelled a bit like last night's Miller Light, there was always an apple from the dining hall in my purse for later, and the enormous oaks on campus put on a brilliant display of gold in October, set amongst a backdrop of brick buildings and mounting tuition dept. 

With that background, you can see why I am drawn to this "Baltimore takes Italy" cocktail. It's also sometimes referred to as the hobo Negroni, and really, it is more delicious than to be expected. It's easy to pour, surprisingly prone to seasonal riffing with Simple Goodness Syrups like this Fall Apple Pie version, and doesn't even require washing a glass.

The original Spaghett uses light beer and Aperol, an apertif that imparts a ton of flavor (orange, rhubarb, herbal, and root notes) and, yes, some bitterness. It's a casual approach to the typical Italian pre-dinner drink hour called "apertivo." Traditionally, you'd serve an apertif on ice, or as a spritz with club soda only to whet the apetite. 

In this drink, the aperitif is added to a Miller Lite, and the score is sweetened with a short pour of Apple Pie syrup. It's a perfect Fall game day cocktail, if you're into that, or a perfect post- Powell's bookstore wander, let's grill dinner on the campfire tonight cocktail, if that's more for you.  To boot, it clocks a low ABV, a requisite for my much-more-moderate-these-days approach to imbibing. 

Apple Cider Spaghett 

Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

1 Miller Lite in a bottle, chilled
1 oz Aperol
1/2 oz Apple Pie syrup

1 lemon slice

How to Make It:

Uncap a chilled Miller Light, pour out a few ounces room at the top. Add the Apple Pie syrup, stir lightly with a skewer, then measure in the Aperol. Squeeze in the lemon juice, if desired. Give it a quick stir before enjoying, and garnish with an apple crescent plugging the top.