“What’s your drink of choice?” asks HBO’s House of Dragon star Olivia Cooke in a now-viral TikTok post.
“A Negroni,” coos her costar Emma D’Arcy, who uses they/them pronouns, in reply. “Sbagliato,” they continue. “With Prosecco in it.”
The exchange—no doubt buoyed by D’Arcy’s velvety delivery—caught more than a few fans’ attention. Google searches for the term “Negroni Sbagliato” skyrocketed, and droves of social media users flocked to their platforms of choice to proclaim their deep, er, appreciation of D’Arcy and their go-to cocktail.
“If HBOMax doesn’t film a video of Emma D’arcy making a Negroni Sbagliato and it isn’t nominated for a James Beard Award, what’s the point even?” writes Twitter user @natebobphil.
“Emma D’Arcy needs to be an ambassador for a [liquor] company or something because ‘Negroni [Sbagliato] with Prosecco in it’ is a modern day LGBTQ cultural phenomenon,” concurs Twitter user @voglersongs.
“Not me being totally obsessed with Emma and Olivia’s interview right now,” adds Instagram user @iele.daravele. “I can’t get that Negroni out of my head!”
But what, precisely, is a Negroni Sbagliato? And does it truly deserve its current white-hot place in the social media spotlight? We investigate.
What Is a Negroni Sbagliato?
According to the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, the “historic Italian cocktail the Negroni Sbagliato, or ‘mistaken Negroni,’ is simply a Negroni but made with Prosecco replacing the gin and carbonated water.” A Negroni, of course, is arguably one of the most popular cocktails to ever come out of Italy. A potent blend of gin, red vermouth and Campari, the Negroni is most often served over ice. In Italy, it often also includes a splash of soda water.
What Does a Negroni Sbagliato Taste Like?
Equal parts sweet and bitter thanks to the fortified wine red vermouth (also called sweet vermouth) and Campari (the cult favorite, bright-red aperitif), the Negroni Sbagliato gets a bubbly lift from effervescent Prosecco. It can either be served on the rocks or up, in a Champagne flute.
How Do You Pronounce “Negroni Sbagliato”?
Don’t worry if you’re a little lost on the pronunciation of this drink. (Not everyone took Italian in high school, OK?)
According to Google Translate, the proper Italian pronunciation is “ṣba·glià·to.” (Hop over here for a handy dandy recording of it.) The “g” in the middle is silent, although—let’s be honest—D’Arcy’s chosen pronunciation, with a hard “g,” is pretty compelling.
How Do You Make a Negroni Sbagliato?
Recipe by Jacy Topps
Ingredients
Directions
In a mixing glass, stir Campari and sweet vermouth with ice.
Strain over a large ice cube into rocks glass.
Top cocktail with sparkling wine.
Garnish with orange twist.
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Last Updated: June 27, 2023
