A Michelin-rated mixologist has given his top tips for making the hottest cocktail after it rose to fame in a viral video and said it would be the new Aperol spritz.
House of the Dragon stars Emma D'Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen) and Olivia Cooke (Queen Alicent) have created a new buzz around the cocktail known as the Negroni Sbagliato.
It all started during a promotional video for the Games of Thrones spin-off series where the actors played a "get to know you game" and the topic of alcohol came up.
The pair asked each other questions from a set of cards.
But it was one moment that set the internet on fire as the pair chatted about their favorite drinks.
"What's your drink of choice?" asked Cooke, to which D'Arcy replied: "A negroni."
"I was going to say the same thing," said Cooke.
But D'Arcy continued, "Sbagliato," they said as they leaned in and added in a breathy voice, "with prosecco in it."
"Oh, stunning," Cooke said enthusiastically.
The moment sent fans into a frenzy, with many rushing to find out what the drink was and joking there would be an influx of orders for it at bars across the world.
The Negroni Sbagliato is a "newer, hotter, better tasting version" of an Aperol spritz according to Brian Van Flandern, a world-renowned Michelin Three-star mixologist.
He helped Newsweek understand exactly what a Negroni Sbagliato is and gave his top tips on how to make the best one.
"It's a cross between an Aperol spritz and the classic Negroni. The Negroni is made, of course, with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. And the Aperol spritz usually is made with Aperol and/or prosecco," he explained.
"So, what we're doing with a Negroni is we're replacing the gin, with prosecco or sparkling wine."
Van Flandern recommended enjoying the drink before eating because of the "digestive nature of Campari."
The good news for people wanting to impress their friends, Van Flandern confirmed the cocktail was easy to make.
"Assembling this cocktail is on the easier side of things because you don't have to go to a fancy restaurant to get one. You can assemble ingredients at home rather short order and make them for friends and a private party as well as out and about," he told Newsweek.
The key lies in the glass you use, lots of ice and the order in which you add the ingredients.
"The absolute recommendation is that you serve it in a red wine gauntlet or something similar with lots of ice. And the ideal garnish would be something like an orange wheel or an orange wedge," he explained.
"Assembling it is simple enough, you just fill your glass with ice, pour in the Campari and sweet vermouth and then add your bubbles over the top and then slowly stir it and then garnish and serve."
The mixologist added: "The ideal is to mix in the ingredients throughout, don't just top it and cover champagne or prosecco as the cocktail originally calls for. You want to make sure to mix the ingredients throughout otherwise the first sip will be all bubbles. And the last it will be all you know bitter."
As for D'Arcy, they have been taken by surprise with their newfound viral moment.
"I keep thinking I should tell my mom that I've become a meme in the hope that she'll be happy for me, but I'd have to explain what a meme is, and I've decided it's too much effort," D'Arcy told The New York Times.
"I feel so embarrassed. Because in those interviews, when we've been at it for six hours, I'm honestly only trying to make Olivia [Cooke] laugh."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more
