Negroni Sbagliato Recipe

Bubbly and bittersweet, the Negroni Sbagliato is the perfect midweek pickup.

Remember the episode of The Simpsons where Homer invents a cocktail? His sisters-in-law, Patty and Selma, are at the house sharing slides from their recent vacation, and the poor guy is all out of beer. Necessity is the mother of invention, as the old saying goes, and Homer gets to concocting. Grabbing whatever alcoholic beverages are on hand and mixing them together in a blender, he winds up with something that’s just… okay. The only thing left to add is Krusty Brand Cough Syrup, and this seems to be the secret ingredient. But not quite. While Homer indulges himself on his new invention, Patty (or Selma) accidentally ashes their cigarette into his cocktail and it literally flames on. Homer discovered that for whatever reason, fire made it good. A happy accident was the final twist his drink needed to taste as though there’s a party in his mouth and everyone is invited. The Flaming Moe was born, and if you’ve seen the episode you know why it’s called that.

Happy accidents have created some of the most iconic events in any field you can think of. So many famous moments in movies throughout the years are often born out of these, and a lot of your favorite music was the result of something completely unplanned or accidental. The world of cocktails has some pretty delicious happy accidents as well, and the drink we’re looking at today is one of them: The Negroni Sbagliato.

The year was 1967 and the place was idyllic Milan, Italy. Then owner of the historic Bar Basso, Mirko Stochetto, was serving drinks one bright and sunny day, when a customer ordered a Negroni. Some say that Mirko absent-mindedly grabbed a bottle of prosecco instead of gin, poured it without realizing and served the mixture, giving today’s cocktail its name. But others, including his son and current Bar Basso owner Maurizio, says that’s not quite how the story goes. Yes, Stochetto accidentally grabbed the prosecco instead of gin, but upon realizing his mistake he shrugged and ran with it. Since it was a warm day, he suggested his customer try “something smoother.”

The Negroni Sbagliato still has legs, or wings, let’s say. In 2022, the star of the HBO series House of the Dragon, Emma D’Arcy went viral for saying a “Negroni Sbagliato with prosecco in it” was her favorite cocktail. Once you have one, it might be yours, too.

What is the Best Prosecco to Use in a Negroni Sbagliato?

My preference when it comes to prosecco, or any sparkling wine, is a blanc de blanc, blanc de noir or something extra dry. These tend to mix well with cocktails like the Negroni Sbagliato, and others such as the French 75. Some of my absolute favorite bottles of bubbly are fairly inexpensive, too. When you mix this drink for yourself, try a few of your favorite proseccos in it, or even champagne if you’re feeling fancy, and find what works best for your palate.

FAQs & Tips

Negroni Sbagliato Variations

Negronis became an all-time favorite cocktail for me over the past year. I fell in fast love with the bittersweet Campari and how it paired perfectly with the sweet vermouth and gin. Making these at home became a fun weekend activety as well, because there’s more than one way to enjoy these beautifully refreshing treats that have such a satisfying bite. Check out a few of Twist & Toast’s recipes to get your next Negroni adventure going.

• White Negroni – Not what you think it is, and even more delicious.
• Aperol Negroni – If Campari is too intense for your tastebuds, try the slightly sweeter Aperol in your next Negroni.
• Tequila Negroni – Add some Southwestern vibes to your Italian tipple by swapping the gin with tequila.
• Classic Negroni – Nothing beats the original, so when you’ve enjoyed the others, make sure you try the first.