A Negroni Sbagliato is a classic Italian cocktail made with Prosecco! It's festive for the holidays, but you can enjoy this Italian drink any time of the year.
Feeling the holiday pressure? Feel like you are running out of time? Head is spinning with unfinished lists. Are you asking yourself why a Pet Shop toy costs $39.99? I propose you have a cocktail! A tasty Italian cocktail.
What is the difference between a negroni and a negroni sbagliato?
The Negroni Sbagliato is basically a Negroni that calls for prosecco or asti spumante instead of gin. Sbagliato in Italian means "wrong" or "mistaken," as in, "I goofed on this negroni and grabbed the wrong bottle! And it tastes GOOD!”
You may be shaking your head saying, "What the heck is a Negroni?!?" Hold your horses...I will tell you!
What is an Italian negroni?
I’m sort of a history buff. I love American history. European history. Food history. And I just found out I even like cocktail history. Here is what I found on wikipedia about a regular Negroni:
“While the drinks' origins are obscured by time, the most widely reported version is that it was invented in Florence, Italy in 1919, at Caffè Casoni, now called Caffè Giacosa. Count Camillo Negroni invented it by asking the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by adding gin rather than the normal soda water. The bartender also added an orange garnish rather than the typical lemon garnish of the Americano to signify that it was a different drink.
After the success of the cocktail, the Negroni Family founded Negroni Distillerie in Treviso, Italy, and produced a ready-made version of the drink, sold as Antico Negroni 1919.
One of the earliest reports of the drink came from Orson Welles in correspondence with the Coshocton Tribune while working in Rome on Cagliostro in 1947, where he described a new drink called the Negroni, "The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other."
I don’t know about you, but this fascinates me! My favorite part is the end quote about how the bitters and gin balance out each other.
Where was the negroni sbagliato invented?
Back to the Negroni Sbagliato. It was invented at the legendary Bar Basso in Milan. Milan has a pretty hopping aperitivo scene. You go out after work to a bar. Any bar. And you buy a cocktail and you get to snack. I’m not talking just popcorn and chips.
Some of these bars have bruschetta. Amazing olives. Cheese spreads. I could go on and on. It basically is a happy hour where you get a drink and practically a free meal. Not bad?
I found the story about this drink in La Cucina Italiana magazine: “The house specialty at the legendary Bar Basso in Milan translates as “wrong” or “mistaken” Negroni—a fitting name for a cocktail born from a happy mistake. When making a Negroni, a misplaced bottle of spumante was grabbed by accident. An instant hit, the drink became the bar’s signature.”
What does a negroni sbagliato taste like?
A negroni sbagliato tastes bitter and fruity (and nice and bubbly!).
I am happy that this drink was created by mistake. So if you are feeling the stress. Time is getting closer. Sit back and make a Negroni Sbagliato.
How to serve a negroni sbagliato?
Like a regular negroni, the sbaliato version is served on ice and usually comes with an orange peel twist.
Cheers for a peaceful rest of the month of December!
Negroni Sbagliato
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce Martini and Rossi sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce dry Spumante or Prosecco
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add Campari, vermouth and Spumante, in that order. Gently stir and garnish with orange slice.
Mardi @eatlivetravelwrite says
Oh thanks so much Lora for the award! I am flattered 🙂 Also, this cocktail looks amazing - I am very much a fan of "bitter" drinks like this - it's nice to counter all the sweet indulgences around this time of the year. Definitely making this one and soon!
Raina says
What a wonderful drink. It sounds perfect for the holidays. Thanks for the history about it too. I also love to learn the history of foods. Wow! You speak 4 1/2 languages! That is impressive. I can barely speak English...lol and a little Italian:)
Chow and Chatter says
lovely drink and great history and wow you hubby is Italian how neat
sara @ CaffeIna says
First of all, thanks a lot for the award!! You are so sweet
Second, you are also soo cool. I did not the story of Negroni and I loved hearing a little bit of Italy here!
Third, that quote...it's fantastic. In true Italian spirit! I need to put as my email signature haha
Last but not least, I loved learning something new about you...above all the misteries part. I love misteries and I always thought I should have been a detective...so funny we have this in common!
Anonymous says
Lora, my Nutella-sharing friend, thank you so much for thinking of me. I think the world of you, so I truly appreciate it!
thank you for the history lesson, the drink lesson and a little more info about you:)
Carolyn says
Oh, lovely cocktail recipe. I love a great cocktail! A great stress reliever indeed. Congrats on the award, you are definitely a stylish blogger.
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
Mmmm that cocktail looks so good and so pretty too!
Congrats on the award and thank you for giving me the award too. I have to say you are so smart!! 4 1/2 languages?! Not geeky at all. 🙂
Stephanie says
Looks like it's time to open up the liquer cabinet!
Liana @ femme fraiche says
I loved the background history on the Negroni. Who knew what mistakes could yield! And can I move onto a farm in Italy with you!? That's my dream as well:)
Amy Bakes Everything says
I sooo need a cocktail after fighting aisle-rage at Toys r Us! This looks incredible!
Evan @swEEts says
Love the history lesson and of course I am always down for a good cocktail 🙂 Congrats on the award too! ps I think that is awesome you speak so many different languages! Its not geeky at all!
A Thought For Food says
Negronis are one of my favorite drinks... and I love La Cucina Italiana (in fact, I think i saw the same piece)! Such great articles and some terrific recipes.
Congrats on being so stylish! Couldn't agree more! 🙂
SMITH BITES says
Lora I am really, really honored that you've included me on this list with some truly amazing bloggers - kinda shocked if you want to know the truth. But I love your blog, love the food you tease us with and most of all, I love your spirit - you are a gem! And how fun is the background of this fantastic drink?! Right up my alley - and 4-1/2 languages??? (((hugs)))
Sasa says
What languages? I'm a polyglot too and am always up for squeezing in a little more...Dropped past on Debra's recommendation and pleased I did ^-^
foodwanderings says
Aww Lora I am really touched and honored. Thank you so much my stylish and most fantastic friend! You know I love tradition and a good story which you paired so beautifully in this post and recipe. Not geek at all I used to read the encyclopedia. lol!
foodwanderings says
BTW. really honored to be in such good company yours included. Came to visit again as I am going to visit the other bloggers you mentioned some I already know and follow but some are new to me. Can't wait!!
whatsfordinneracrossstatelines says
Congrats on the award and thank you so much for passing this on to me. I love a good cocktail, especially this time of year. I will pass it along soon, I'm a little behind.
-Gina-
Paula - bell'alimento says
Ah, grazie Cara! xoxo
momgateway says
CONGRATULATIONS on your award!
Oooohhh...got to try this cocktail during the holidays.
Anonymous says
Thank you for the award and cocktail recipe. I think the second might be most needed in my life right now 🙂 Adding the ingredients to my grocery list and carving out a night to relax this week with one of these drinks. No exceptions 🙂 Hope your December is relaxing!
claire says
Congrats on your award! I love your blog and could think of more adjectives then stylish for your blog: creative, fun, and fabulous!
thanks for thinking of me! I appreciate it!
Anna Johnston says
Oh yes, congratulations on the award, well done & love this cocktail, I'm seriously into a good cocktail & love learning new ones. Cheers !
agg says
You are so cute and I am so happy I "met" you on Twitter!! Thank you so much for the sweet award, I really enjoyed reading about you! I too love Italian soccer, grew up on it! My family is from Sicily (I'm first generation born American) so I grew up watching it...my dad has it on the minute he comes home from work, lol.
I've never had a Negroni! I'm not a huge fan of gin so I think I like the Sbagliato version better! I want to make these for my family on Christmas eve! Or before! 🙂 Cheers!
mangiabella says
thank you Chef D for introducing me to this wonderful blog!! What a delight to become your newest follower 🙂 Congrats on the award, much deserved, and I have officially bookmarked for quick reference!! have a glorious day sweet bella
Emily Malloy says
Yes, PLEASE!
Chef Dennis says
Hi Lora!
I love learning these little facts about our online friends! I'll keep it in mind if I ever need a detective! Congratulations on your award, and thank you so much for thinking of me! I am honored.
Have a wonderful day my friend!
Dennis
Monet says
Hi Sweet Woman! Sorry it took me so long to get to this...I've been a busy girl with finals and grading. Congratulations on the award (I couldn't agree more) and thank you so much for including me on such a wonderful list of bloggers! I can't believe you know so many languages! Way to go! Thank you for sharing with me love!
Jason Phelps says
I just started making Negroni's at home and will be trying this variation as soon as I can. Thanks for the "things about you". Always great to get to know someone better.
Jason
1-2Punch says
Great story, with a happy ending! I made a mistake making biscotti one day and they turned out a wonderful texture and not hard as a brick, which made them a big hit with my kids and it is now my secret recipe!