Negroni Sbagliato
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 14.1% ABV ∙
The Negroni Sbagliato is a stirred Italian cocktail of equal parts sweet vermouth and a red bitter like Campari, topped with Prosecco instead of gin. Bittersweet and herbal on the front, the mousse-like fizz lightens the finish while a citrus-bright wheel perfumes each sip.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour all ingredients into the ice-filled glass: Rosso vermouth 30 mlRed bitter 30 mlProsecco extra dry 60 ml
- Stir
- Garnish with an orange wheel
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass before building so the ice doesn't melt fast and dilute the Prosecco's fizz.
- Stir gently and briefly once the Prosecco is in, so you chill the drink without knocking out its bubbles.
History
The Negroni Sbagliato ("mistaken" or "wrong" Negroni) originated at Bar Basso in Milan, where bartender Mirko Stocchetto is credited with creating it in 1972 by reaching for a bottle of sparkling wine instead of gin while mixing a Negroni. Rather than discard the misfired drink, he served it, swapping the gin for sparkling wine while keeping the Campari and sweet vermouth, and the accidental result caught on as a lighter alternative to the original. Bar Basso, which Stocchetto ran with fellow Venetian bartender Renato Hausamann from the late 1960s, is still cited as the drink's birthplace and continues to serve it today.
The drink is a direct offshoot of the Negroni, generally traced to Florence in 1919, where Count Camillo Negroni is said to have asked a bartender to strengthen his Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. The Negroni Sbagliato keeps that bittersweet Campari-and-vermouth base but replaces the gin with sparkling wine, producing a lighter, bubblier drink.
FAQ
What's the difference between a Negroni and a Negroni Sbagliato?
A Negroni Sbagliato replaces the gin with Prosecco, keeping the equal-parts sweet vermouth and red bitter but making it lighter, fizzier, and lower in alcohol than a standard Negroni.
What is in a Negroni Sbagliato?
Equal parts sweet (rosso) vermouth and a red bitter such as Campari, topped with Prosecco, stirred over ice and garnished with an orange wheel.
What is the best ratio for a Negroni Sbagliato?
The standard build is equal parts sweet vermouth, red bitter, and Prosecco. This recipe keeps the equal-parts base of vermouth and red bitter but pours a longer measure of Prosecco on top, which makes it lighter and fizzier than the strict one-to-one-to-one version.
What is the difference between an Aperol Spritz and a Negroni Sbagliato?
An Aperol Spritz is mostly Prosecco and soda lifted by a small amount of Aperol, while a Negroni Sbagliato is built on equal parts vermouth and red bitter with Prosecco added on top, making it darker, more bitter, and less sweet.
What is a dirty Negroni?
A dirty Negroni is a standard Negroni of gin, sweet vermouth, and a red bitter with a splash of olive brine added, which is a different drink from the Negroni Sbagliato, whose defining swap is Prosecco for gin.
Do Italians drink Negroni Sbagliato?
Yes, it is a well-known variation in Italian bars, born as an accidental substitute for gin and now served widely as a lighter, lower-alcohol alternative to the classic Negroni.
