If all screw-ups were as delicious as a Negroni Sbagliato, you’d be living in a wonderland. The tragedy? You’re not Alice and this is no wonderland. But there is a silver lining. The world has given us this heavenly cocktail — made from sparkling wine, Campari, and sweet vermouth — and that’s almost as good.
The hype began after HBO’s handle posted a clip of Emma D’Arcy, (aka Rhaenyra Targaryen) on TikTok flirtatiously revealing their drink of choice to Olivia Cooke (Queen Alicent). When Cooke asks D’Arcy what their favorite cocktail is, they reply, saying, “A negroni, sbagliato, with Prosecco in it.”
And suddenly the Internet went more wild than it did over Stanley Tucci’s Negroni back in 2020. The clip, so far, has more than 19 million views.
What Is a Negroni Sbagliato?
A traditional Negroni is made with equal parts of Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin. It’s a pre-dinner drink, served with an orange slice or orange peel over ice — its dryness is ideal for stimulating the appetite.
The Sbagliato variant replaces gin with Prosecco — the Italian version of champagne. It’s a wonderful alternative if you want a Negroni but also want to get anything done afterward.
That’s because a Negroni Sbagliato stands at about 15% alcohol content, whereas a regular Negroni comes in at about 25% or 30%. So, even when you’re through a night of chugging down a few glasses of the former, you’ll have wine flu, not a hangover. What? Didn’t we just mention how good it tastes?
The History of the the Negroni Sbagliato
The Negroni Sbagliato was reportedly born in Milan in 1972 when Mirko Stocchetto, a bartender at historic Bar Basso accidentally grabbed a bottle of Prosecco instead of gin.
The moment resulted in magic. That’s where the word “Sbagliato” came from — it’s an Italian word, synonymous with incorrect, mistake, or screw-up. Or, in this case, serendipity.
These days, you can easily make one at home with the recipe below, or order one at a bar. Ryan Power, a bartender at Gingers Bar in NYC says, “Everybody now knows this cocktail, and since it has a relatively easier recipe, any cocktail bar will be able to make you the drink.”
Why Prosecco?
The history of Prosecco is filled with mystery, fascination, and confusion. Some say it has been around for thousands of years. While others attribute its origins to the late 16th century.
Though you might think of the sparkling wine as the less expensive version of champagne, it has a slightly different taste and mouthfeel thanks to the way it’s produced.
For instance, Champagne has tiny bubbles that stick around for as long as you’re enjoying your glass (within reason, of course). Whereas Prosecco’s bubbles are more like beer’s. They’re frothy and soft when you first pour a glass, but dissipate relatively quickly.
The result is by swapping gin for Prosecco in the Negroni Sbagliato, you create a lighter, bubblier, more refreshing cocktail.
Negroni Sbagliato Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ oz. sweet Vermouth
- 1½ oz. Campari
- 1½ oz. Proscecco
Directions
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add Vermouth and Campari. Stir.
- Slowly pour in Prosecco. Stir.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Safwan has written for blogs like American Songwriter, TV Over Mind, Diamond Lobby, and Punch Debt in the Face. If you can't find him writing killer sales copies, it's probably because he's out writing another love song or playing another acoustic gig.
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