If you’ve paid any attention at all to the internet in the past few weeks, you will have heard plenty of talk of a Negroni Sbagliato.
All of the chatter can be pinpointed back to House of the Dragon stars Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke. In a ‘Get to Know Me’ interview, Cooke asks D’Arcy what their ‘drink of choice’ is. In a clip that has since been replayed millions of times, D’Arcy answers that it’s ‘a Negroni… Sbagliato…with Prosecco in it’, and the rest is history.
Now it’s not just the fact that D’Arcy gives their answer in an oddly satisfying way that is keeping us hooked on the Negroni. Rather, all this talk of the iconic drink has reignited our passion for it, and it seems like we’re not alone. Sales of Prosecco and Campari (key components of the Negroni Sbagliato) shot up alongside the video’s views, and Google Trend searches for the drink increased by 1080% when comparing September 2022 to October 2022.
If you’re curious about what exactly a Negroni sbagliato is, and how to make one, fear not. Here’s our guide to the latest internet craze.
What is a Negroni Sbagliato?
A staple on many cocktail menus, the Negroni is an Italian cocktail. Ranked as the second most loved drink in the world by Drinks International in 2016, it is traditionally made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel.
The Negroni is unmistakable, thanks to its bright red colour. Its taste is equally unique – bitter, sweet, earthy, and fruity all at once. It's also undeniably strong and not for the faint of heart.
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The Negroni Sbagliato is made slightly differently from a classic Negroni. Sbagliato, which translates as ‘mistake’ in Italian, swaps out the gin in a Negroni for Prosecco. Allegedly, the Sbagliato twist on the Negroni came about when a bartender mistakenly used sparkling wine to make the drink. There’s also another version of the story, which sees Count Negroni asking for the combination at an Italian café in 1919. No matter its origins, it’s remained a staple on cocktail menus ever since.
Emma D’Arcy’s offhand interview answer has been enough to spark a Negroni Sbagliato revolution. If you’re looking to make one, here are the things you’ll need.
The best Negroni Sbagliato recipe
Luckily, this is a fairly easy drink to make. Just add your ingredients, give it a stir, and enjoy.
You’ll need:
• 25ml Campari
• 25ml Sweet Vermouth (Martini is the most commonly used, but there’s room for flexibility here)
• 30 ml Prosecco
• Ice
• An orange slice
Pour 25ml of Campari and 25ml Sweet Vermouth into a glass. Then, add your ice and slowly add in the Prosecco. Give it a stir, and top up further if you like, adjusting to taste. Finish off with a slice of orange to garnish.
And voila! You’ve got yourself a Negroni Sbagliato that would make Emma D’Arcy proud.
If you’re interested in giving in to some other food and drink trends, check out our guide to making the viral ‘butter board’.
Words by: Cara Rogers
Header image and recipe courtesy of: Financial World
In text image courtesy of: Nuff via Unsplash