The sensational video posted by HBO Max shows a clip of House of the Dragon co-stars Olivia Cooke and Emma D’Arcy interviewing each other about their drinks of choice. The video has become an undeniable hit—15.6 million views and 1.4 million likes, and counting—due in part to it featuring some of the best eye contact ever caught on camera and D’Arcy giving their answer in an ultra-sultry voice that the internet can’t get enough of. Cooke replies with an “Oh, stunning.” And we agree—the Negroni Sbagliato certainly sounds stunning. A good portion of the 8,400-plus comments on the post are about the way D’Arcy says “with Prosecco in it,” which is understandable—but a Negroni Sbagliato actually requires the use of Prosecco: Prosecco is the distinguishing ingredient between a Negroni and a Negroni Sbagliato. The Italian word “sbagliato” roughly translates to “wrong” or “mistake” in English, and for this particular drink, legend has it that the creator accidentally swapped out the Negroni’s usual gin for sparkling wine. Here’s what you need to make it at home.
How to Make a Negroni Wrong
The Negroni Sbagliato is one of the easiest cocktails to conjure up because it uses equal parts of all ingredients (perfect for the next time you host a gathering). It’s also a great option if you prefer not to drink strong liquor. Simply fill a glass with ice, pour 1 oz of bitter Campari liqueur and 1 oz sweet vermouth, and stir. Strain the mixture into a glass or champagne flute and top with 1 oz of sparkling wine of your choice—namely Prosecco, if you want to have what D’Arcy’s having. TikTok user nic.hamilton posted a tutorial with the HBO video’s sound and added an orange twist to garnish. “I’ve always loved a Negroni Sbagliato,” he says. “Up until a week ago, every time I’d order one the whole table would go, ‘Oh you fancy man. What’s that?’” That likely won’t be the case anymore. Another response to the original video came from leah.kilpatrick, a former bartender who says that, when you order the drink, all you need to say is that you want a Sbagliato. “If you order a Negroni Sbagliato with Prosecco, you’re basically ordering something that’s the equivalent of, ‘I want a martini cosmopolitan with cranberry juice.’ The Prosecco is part of the ingredients, so you don’t need to say that,” the video says.
The Classic Negroni (and Our Own Variation)
According to a trend report from Yelp, the Negroni was already anticipated to rise in popularity in 2022, with searches up by 50% from 2020 to 2021. To make a classic Negroni, throw together Campari and sweet vermouth exactly how you would for a Sbagliato, just with 1 oz of gin instead of Prosecco, and serve it as an aperitivo (pre-meal beverage). For another twist on the classic, try out our cardamom Negroni. The recipe includes cardamom-vanilla orange slices, cardamom-infused gin, Dolin Blanc, and the traditional Campari over ice. Roast orange slices with vanilla bean paste and cardamom for a caramelized sweetness.
