Head to head

Negroni vs. Negroni Sbagliato

Negroni and Negroni Sbagliato side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference

The Sbagliato (“mistaken”) is a Negroni with sparkling wine in place of gin. It keeps the Campari and vermouth, loses about a third of the alcohol, and gains bubbles.

By the numbers

The Negroni uses gin where the Negroni Sbagliato uses sparkling wine; both have Campari and sweet vermouth. In parts, a Negroni is 1 gin, 1 Campari and 1 vermouth; a Negroni Sbagliato is 1 Campari, 1 vermouth and 1 bubbles. By volume, the Negroni is 67% fortified wine and bitter and 33% spirit; the Negroni Sbagliato is 67% fortified wine and bitter and 33% mixer and juice.

The Negroni is the stronger drink in the glass (21.3% ABV against 14.9%) and holds more alcohol (1.35 standard drinks against 0.88). The Negroni has more calories (about 179 against 135), with about the same sugar (11.7 g and 12.1 g). Both are built; the Negroni is served in a rocks glass, the Negroni Sbagliato in a goblet.

Negroni

Negronis & Spritzes · Gin

Strength
21.3%
Std. drinks
1.35
Calories
179
Sugar
11.7 g

Built, served in a rocks glass. About 3¾ oz (112 ml) in the glass. Garnish: Half an orange slice.

The ratio · 1 : 1 : 1

Full Negroni recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Negroni Sbagliato.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurNegroniNegroni Sbagliato

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.