Negroni Sbagliato – A Beautiful Mess

If you love the classic cocktail Negroni, you have to try this lighter, sparking version. This recipe replaces the gin with effervescent Prosecco to create a flavorful cocktail. This drink makes an excellent aperitivo, or pre-dinner drink.

Related: Boulevardier, Cosmo, Manhattan, Rusty Nail, Aperol Spritz, Salty Dog.

Ingredients

• Campari – The famous bright red Italian bitter.
• Sweet Vermouth – Choose a sweet red vermouth.
• Prosecco – Or other sparkling wine.
• Orange Peel – For garnish.

The best glassware choice for this drink is the same as a classic Negroni, an old fashioned glass. You can also serve it in a champagne flute.

Instructions

In a mixing glass, combine Campari and sweet vermouth with ice and stir for 10-15 seconds.

Next, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube. 

Slowly pour Prosecco (or any sparkling wine) to top the drink. 

Garnish with an orange twist or an orange peel.

Tips for Making

• Play with the proportions if you want to create a drink that is slightly more stiff or slightly more bubbly.
• For a lower ABV, you can replace the sparkling wine with soda water. This is a perfect solution for day drinking and makes a delightful sipping drink.
• This drink can be batched into a pitcher cocktail or punch bowl. For an entire bottle of Prosecco (which is typically 25 ounces), you would want to also increase the Campari and sweet vermouth to 25 ounces. It’s equal parts of all three ingredients—so very easy to batch if you choose to!

What is a Negroni Sbagliato?

Sbagliato, in Italian, means “bungled” or “mistaken.” This comes from the origin of the drink which, like so many favorites, was a happy accident.

Today, the word sbagliato in this context indicates “with Prosecco” and is recognized by bartenders. A Negroni Spagliato is a classic Negroni with Prosecco instead of gin. The result is a similarly flavored drink since a lot of the flavor comes from the Campari. The biggest difference is that the Prosecco creates a lighter drink both in alcohol volume and in taste. If you’ve ever loved a Negroni but found it a bit too stiff, this may be the perfect drink for you.

History of a Negroni Spagliato

This spin on the classic Negroni was created in the 1980s in Milan. Legend has it that Bar Basso mistakenly reached for a bottle of Prosecco instead of gin. The riff became a huge hit and is still served today at Bar Basso in Milan (anyone up for a trip to Italy?). 

In 2022, a viral TikTok between House of the Dragon actors Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke made this drink skyrocket in popularity. In the video, Cooke asks D’Arcy, “What’s your drink of choice?” D’Arcy thoughtfully responds, “A Negroni,” and adds, “Sbagliato, with Prosecco in it.” Cooke responds, “Oh, stunning.”

For thousands of people, this was their first time to hear about this drink. We’re so happy this delightful recipe is getting a well-deserved boost in fame.

FAQ

More Cocktail Recipes