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In Italian, sbagliato means “mistake,” so a Negroni sbagliato (or, simply, a sbagliato, as the drink is classically known) is a riff on the Negroni cocktail that came about “by accident.” A classic Negroni traditionally comprises equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and bittersweet Campari; supposedly, a bartender invented this effervescent version in Milan in 1972 at Bar Basso when he mistakenly grabbed a bottle of sparkling wine instead of gin. If you’ve dined out or visited a cocktail bar in the US since October 2022, you’ve likely seen—or sipped—your share of the aperitif spritz.
We can thank a viral TikTok from HBO for that. “In that video, Emma D’Arcy, star of House of the Dragon, told their costar Olivia Cooke that their drink of choice was a ‘Negroni…sbagliato…with prosecco in it.’ The pauses were pregnant; the eye contact was intense; and the internet lost its damn mind,” writes BA restaurant editor Elazar Sontag.
A bottle of prosecco is the expected choice for this Italian cocktail, but cava or any inexpensive dry sparkling wine will do (save the Champagne for a more delicate French 75). Of course, you could also continue the tradition and trade it out for something else altogether: The team at Torrisi in New York uses fruity Lambrusco for the bubbles, garnishing the drink with a juicy orange slice. A finishing splash of soda water keeps the cocktail refreshing and not too sweet.
Recipe information
Total Time
2 minutes
Yield
Makes 1
Ingredients
4
1
½
Preparation
Pour 4 oz. Prosecco into a large wine or rocks glass filled with ice cubes. Add 1 oz. sweet vermouth, ½ oz. Campari, and top off with club soda. Stir gently to combine; garnish with lime wheel.
Editor’s note: This Negroni sbagliato recipe was first printed in our August 2015 issue as “Sbagliato.” Head this way for more of our favorite summer cocktail recipes →
Leave a Review
Reviews (17)
Back to TopNo gin, no grin. This is a nope for me.
Hal Hackett
Newport OR
5/9/2024
Not my drink. Will stick to Negroni.
Emily
Bentonville, AR
1/2/2024
My Negroni Sbagliato brings all the ladies to my yard ;)
Saberage queen
EGR,MI
10/17/2022
What’s your drink of choice? A Negroni… Sbagliato… with processo in it. 10/10 perfect drink with all the right quantities for the perfect blend.
Rose
North Carolina
10/15/2022