The Negroni Sbagliato (literally a “wrong Negroni”) is said to have been born serendipitously. Like a standard Negroni, the cocktail contains a base of Campri and vermouth but swaps gin for sparkling wine – though it's still garnished with an orange slice.
The history of Negroni Sbagliato
The Negroni Sbagliato was invented by bartender Mirko Stocchetto in Milan in 1972 at Bar Basso, a historic bar in Milan that's still open. It's said that while making the classic Negroni, Mirko accidentally grabbed a bottle of prosecco and of gin and poured it into the glass, making cocktail history. The sparkling wine makes the cocktail less complex and more drinkable for those who don't like their drinks too strong.
The recipe
Ingredients:
1 part brut sparkling wine
1 part red vermouth
1 part Campari
ice
orange slice
Place the orange slice and some ice cubes in a glass, preferably an old-fashioned glass, then pour in the Campari, the red vermouth, and finally the sparkling wine (or prosecco). Mix very gently.
Aperitivo
Sometimes just called Sbagliato, this cocktail strikes a perfect balance between the sweetness of red vermouth and the bitterness of Campari. The absence of gin, replaced with sparkling wine, adds a more delicate flavor and also lowers the alcohol percentage.