Ingredients
- 30 ml Campari
- 30 ml Sweet vermouth
- 30 ml Prosecco
- 1 Large ice cube
- 1 Orange slice or peel
Instructions
- Pour Campari and sweet vermouth into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
- Stir gently for 5 seconds.
- Top with prosecco.
- Garnish with an orange slice or peel.
Notes
Where it came from
The Negroni Sbagliato (“mistaken Negroni”) was invented in the 1970s at Bar Basso in Milan. Bartender Mirko Stocchetto grabbed a bottle of prosecco instead of gin while making a Negroni. The customer drank it, liked it, and asked for another. The drink became Bar Basso’s house cocktail.
It went viral globally in October 2022 when actress Emma D’Arcy named it as her favourite drink in a House of the Dragon press junket video. Sales of Campari and prosecco spiked overnight. The drink is now a global modern classic.
What it tastes like
Bitter orange-rhubarb from the Campari, herbal sweet wine character from the vermouth, dry crisp fizz from the prosecco. Lighter than a Negroni (gin-Campari-vermouth is heavier and stickier). The prosecco lifts the bitterness rather than fighting it.
It’s a brilliant aperitif. Drinks faster than a Negroni, hits softer, finishes drier. Better with food than a Negroni.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The Campari
- Use
- Campari (the standard Italian)
- Try
- Select Aperitivo (Venetian, sweeter) or Cappelletti (less aggressive)
- Why
- Campari is the canonical bittering agent. Substitutes change the drink character.
The sweet vermouth
- Use
- Carpano Antica Formula (premium) or Cinzano Rosso (everyday)
- Skip
- Cheap supermarket vermouth (tastes flat)
- Why
- Vermouth makes or breaks this drink. Antica is worth the price.
The prosecco
- Use
- Dry prosecco from Italy (DOC)
- Skip
- Sweet prosecco, Champagne (overkill), Cava (acceptable)
- Why
- Dry prosecco balances the sweetness from the vermouth.
Variations
Other Negroni variations and bitter aperitifs.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Aperol (sweeter, less bitter), Select Aperitivo, or Cappelletti.
Punt e Mes (more bitter), Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, or just sweet red wine in a pinch.
Cava, Cremant, or any dry sparkling wine. Champagne works but is unnecessary.
Make it a regular Negroni — gin + Campari + vermouth. Skip the prosecco. Stronger by half.
Lyre’s Italian Orange + Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso + alcohol-free sparkling wine. The colour and flavour profile work surprisingly well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is a Negroni Sbagliato?
A Negroni Sbagliato is Campari, sweet vermouth, and prosecco in equal parts (30ml each) over ice. It’s the “mistaken Negroni” — gin replaced with prosecco. Invented by accident at Bar Basso in Milan in the 1970s.
Why is it called Sbagliato?
Sbagliato is Italian for “mistaken” or “wrong”. A bartender at Bar Basso grabbed prosecco instead of gin while making a Negroni. The customer liked the result so much they kept ordering it. The name stuck.
How is it different from a regular Negroni?
Same base ingredients (Campari + sweet vermouth) but the gin is replaced with prosecco. The Sbagliato is lighter, fizzier, less bitter, and weaker. About half the alcohol of a regular Negroni.
How do you make a Negroni Sbagliato?
Pour 30ml Campari and 30ml sweet vermouth into a rocks glass over one large ice cube. Stir briefly. Top with 30ml prosecco. Garnish with an orange slice. Don’t over-stir after adding prosecco — keep the bubbles.
Why did the Negroni Sbagliato go viral?
Emma D’Arcy (House of the Dragon actress) named it as her favourite drink in an October 2022 press junket video. The video — co-star Olivia Cooke saying “oh interesting” — went mega-viral on TikTok. Bars worldwide reported a Sbagliato boom for months.
What does a Negroni Sbagliato taste like?
Bitter-orange Campari, herbal sweet vermouth, dry prosecco fizz. Lighter and brighter than a Negroni. The prosecco softens the bitterness without removing it.
How strong is a Negroni Sbagliato?
About 14-16% ABV in the glass. Roughly half the strength of a regular Negroni (which is around 25-28%). The prosecco dilutes the spirit weight.
What glass should I use?
A rocks glass with one large ice cube. Some bars serve it in a wine glass — both are correct. The rocks glass with a big cube is the Bar Basso original.
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