Negroni Sbagliato

The Negroni sbagliato is a classic cocktail that underwent a major resurgence in 2022. It all began when HBO Max posted a video on its TikTok account featuring an interview between House of the Dragon stars Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke. In the clip, D’Arcy says to Cooke that their drink of choice is, “a Negroni … sbagliato … with Prosecco in it.” The clip went viral, quickly racking up millions of likes on TikTok.

What is a Negroni sbagliato?

The Negroni sbagliato is an Italian cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth and Prosecco. A variation of the classic Negroni (made with Campari, sweet vermouth and gin), it was invented in Milan at Bar Basso in 1967 when proprietor and bartender Mirko Stochetto mistakenly grabbed a bottle of Prosecco instead of gin. Stochetto went with it, and the Negroni sbagliato recipe was, somewhat accidentally, born.

The name, sbagliato, means “wrong” or “mistaken” in Italian. Since most Negroni sbalgiato cocktails are made with Prosecco, part of what made the TikTok video viral and meme-worthy was D’Arcy asking for their cocktail, “with Prosecco in it.” It’s sort of like saying, “I’d like a cheeseburger with cheese on it.”

Ingredients for Negroni Sbagliato

• Vermouth: If you’re new to vermouth, there’s one important distinction you must know: dry versus sweet vermouth. The Negroni sbagliato recipe calls for sweet vermouth, so take note of the vermouth labels when you’re at the store.
• Campari: Vibrantly red with an herbal and floral aroma, Campari is an Italian bitter amaro that infuses notes of orange, herbs and wood into cocktails.
• Ice cubes: Ice goes directly into the glass it’s served in. Use larger ice cubes; they will melt much more slowly than smaller ice cubes and dilute the drink less. I love to keep ice cube trays that make large square or round ice cubes for this exact purpose. Plus, they make the cocktail look professional!
• Prosecco: The best Prosecco picks don’t have to be the most expensive on the shelf. And, usually, they’re not! Just make sure the notes in your Prosecco match the bittersweet, orange and herbaceous notes of the other ingredients.
• Orange slice: With so many orange notes coming from the Campari, the best garnish for a Negroni sbagliato is a simple orange slice.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the base

Combine the sweet vermouth and Campari in a mixing glass with ice. Stir them together until the base is chilled.

Step 2: Strain it into a glass

Strain the base into a rocks glass filled halfway with ice.

Step 3: Add the Prosecco

Top the drink off with Prosecco.

Step 4: Garnish the cocktail

Garnish the Negroni sbagliato with an orange slice. Serve and enjoy!

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Recipe Variations

• Swap the Prosecco: You can really use almost any type of sparkling wine here. Cava is a great choice to keep with Prosecco’s flavor profile. Other sparkling wines may alter the flavor profile a little bit, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! In fact, it honors this cocktail’s accidental inception.
• Change the amaro: Prefer a slightly sweeter cocktail? Swap the Campari for Aperol, or use your favorite type of amaro or aperitivo instead. Different amari have different flavor profiles, so just make sure that your amaro’s profile makes sense here.

How to Store a Negroni Sbagliato

It is possible to store leftover Negroni sbagliato with Prosecco in the fridge for up to two days. Just know that the Prosecco will flatten, the ice will melt and the drink won’t be as bubbly when you come back to it. For these reasons, we recommend making Negroni sbagliato fresh. If you must store an unfinished cocktail, give it a good stir (and maybe an additional splash of Prosecco) before sipping.

Can I make a Negroni sbagliato ahead of time?

We don’t recommend making a Negroni sbagliato with Prosecco ahead of time. Using a fresh, bubbly Prosecco is crucial to the integrity of the drink, and Prosecco will fall flat if it’s left open for a few days.

Negroni Sbagliato Tips

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How do you pronounce sbagliato?

The correct way to pronounce sbagliato is “spAH-lyee-AH-toh,” with a roll of the tongue at “gli” that sounds sort of like “lyee.” It’s considered to be one of the hardest pronunciations in Italian. In the video, D’Arcy pronounced the name of the drink incorrectly (though with a flourish), which is another reason why the clip became so meme-worthy.

What is in a Negroni?

In a classic Negroni recipe, you’ll find equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. In this variation, Prosecco replaces the gin to make a lighter, bubblier drink.