(also known as Negroni Sbagliato)
I love the sweet-bitter punch of a Negroni. It's why I said, "YES!" to making a Negroni lip balm all those years ago when Campari asked me to.
But sometimes, I need something a little lighter, and that's when I turn to a Negroni Spritz, which is also often called a Negroni Sbagliato.
Meaning of Negroni Sbagliato
Negroni Sbagliato actually means mistaken or incorrect Negroni. Instead of including gin, as the classic cocktail does, the Sbagliato has Prosecco or another sparkling wine. Do you know why the drink is named this way? Because the drink was actually the result of a mistake!
Negroni Sbagliato History
The Negroni Sbagliato was invented at in the 1970s at Bar Basso in Milan. The legend goes that a bartender accidentally poured Prosecco instead of gin into a Negroni. Curious, the customer tried this mistaken cocktail and loved it. So the bar became famous for the Negroni Sbagliato and the cocktail became a beloved drink around the world. (Albeit one that's still not widely known.)
Negroni vs. Negroni Spritz
Instead of tasting strong with alcohol, the way a Negroni does with gin, the Negroni Spritz is a beautiful balance of bitter Campari, sweet vermouth, and fruity, fizzy Prosecco. While both are excellent cocktails to enjoy before dinner, the Negroni Spritz is lighter on the booze and the bubbles make it extra fun.
Both pair nicely with olives and salty nuts.
How to Make Negroni a Negroni Spritz
In a classic Negroni, you generally stir together gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari in equal proportions, although some people like to play around with those ratios.
With a Negroni Sbagliato, some people will add Prosecco in the same ratio as the vermouth and Campari while others prefer to add more Prosecco.
The more Prosecco you add, the more fruity and bubbly, and less bitter it will be.
The recipe below uses three times as much Prosecco as Campari and sweet vermouth.
Negroni Spritz Recipe
From Spritz by Talia Baichhi and Leslie Pariseau
1 ounce (30 ml) Campari
1 ounce (30 ml) sweet vermouth
3 ounces (90 ml) Prosecco
1 orange half-wheel
Fill a glass with ice. Add the Campari, sweet vermouth and Prosecco. Garnish with the orange and enjoy!