What's the internet's current drink of choice? A negroni sbagliato
A Canadian bartender weighs in on the trend — and he agrees, the cocktail is ‘stunning’
If you spend an unruly amount of time on TikTok — or online at all, for that matter — then you likely ran to your nearest bar sometime in the past several weeks to get in on the latest trend. By now, every bartender must be a pro at making the internet's newest It drink — the negroni sbagliato (with prosecco in it, of course).
In an unexpectedly viral video (sitting at 21.8 million views), House of the Dragon co-stars Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy exchange classic icebreakers. When asked what their drink of choice is, D'Arcy responds in their silky voice, "A negroni. Sbagliato. With prosecco in it." And thus the trend was born.
The drink has infiltrated bars the way the espresso martini did not long ago. Although, it was already a pretty common order in Edmonton, says James Grant, thanks to a popular Italian aperitivo bar there. The award-winning bartender and owner of Old Gray Rabbit Bar & Beverage thinks "it's a phenomenal drink" and a great way to introduce guests to a low-proof variation of the classic negroni.
So, "what is a negroni sbagliato?" you might ask. It is simply equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth, topped with prosecco — instead of the classic gin — and a twist of orange. The Italian word "sbagliato" (pro tip: it's pronounced "zbah-lee-ah-toh," Grant says) means "mistake" in English. Legend has it that an Italian bartender accidentally grabbed a bottle of prosecco instead of gin, and that happy mistake turned into a drink of its own.
The sbagliato is, in itself, a very summery drink; it is the colour of sunsets, and the sweet airiness of prosecco transports you to a balmy day at the beach. Grant, however, has an autumnal variation on the trending classic — the Autonno Sbagliato. If you want to stand out from the flock of TikTok users ordering the trendy drink, why not opt for a fall twist?
"All that's required is two substitutions," Grant said. "Swap out the sweet vermouth for oloroso sherry — a fortified Spanish wine with gorgeous dried fruit and nutty notes — and replace the Campari with Meletti Amaro — a darker Italian bitter liqueur that leans more into bitter orange, burnt sugar and baking spice flavours … [It's] easy, complex and just a little outside the norm."
Recipe:
- 1oz Meletti Amaro
- 1oz oloroso sherry
- 1oz dry sparkling wine (prosecco or cava)
- Add all ingredients to an ice-filled rocks glass and stir.
- Garnish with a wedge of orange.
If the fall twist isn't for you, consider exploring other types of sparkling wine and different brands of bitter red liqueur and sweet vermouth until you find your perfect combo. Maybe you don't drink, but would love to partake in the trend; why not try a non-alcoholic version? Don't worry, bartenders aren't judging you for ordering the drink. But avoid the redundancy of asking for "prosecco in it," because it's already implied. Regardless, the way Emma D'Arcy says it is simply stunning.
