5 Minute Negroni Spritz Cocktail

When two Italian cocktails collide

What do you get when you combine a bitter Negroni cocktail with the refreshing elements of a classic Italian spritz? A Negroni Spritz Cocktail!

This slightly bitter, but refreshing cocktail has the light and effervescent qualities of an Aperol Spritz or Campari Spritz but is still reminiscent of a Negroni. I know the bitterness of a Negroni isn’t for everyone but this alternative sure is. Bubbly prosecco and club soda cut down on the stronger flavors, making this a well-balanced sipper for all of your party guests.

Is this a Negroni Sbagliato?

No, not quite. A Negroni Sbagliato is a play on the classic Negroni. Instead of gin, it’s made with equal parts prosecco, Campari, and sweet vermouth. 

The ingredients in this Negroni spritz recipe are the same as the Sbagliato but the ratios are not. Plus, club soda is added for extra balance and bubbles.

Ingredients you need

Like my Sparkling Negroni Punch, this refreshing summer cocktail is made with a few out-of-the-ordinary ingredients. But once all four of them come together, you have a bubbly prosecco cocktail that’s light, invigorating, and crowd-pleasing. Here’s what you need:

Brut prosecco

Prosecco is a type of sparkling wine that’s mostly made in the Veneto region of Italy. It comes in three varieties of sweetness: brut, very dry, and dry. Pick up a bottle of brut while you’re out shopping. It’s the least sweet, which means it won’t overpower the cocktail and throw off the balanced flavors.

While it is the best type of sparkling wine for balance, prosecco isn’t the only option here. Give this drink its fizzy finish with rose sparkling wine, Cava, or champagne if you want to be fancy.

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Campari

This Italian red aperitif has a distinct bitter and herbal flavor thanks to its secret ingredients list. A blend of herbs, flowers, and fruit gives Campari a pronounced flavor in most of the cocktails it’s used in, whether it’s a Negroni, Campari Spritz, or Boulevardier. Here, most of its bitter, vegetal flavors are toned down when combined with sweet vermouth, club soda, and prosecco.

Still, if Campari is a little too bitter for you, try making the spritz with Aperol instead. It’s a little sweeter and has a bright orange flavor.

Sweet vermouth

You’ll always find sweet vermouth in a Negroni and it’s just as welcome in this spritz recipe. It adds a nice sweetness and helps balance the bitterness of the Campari. For traditional Negronis, I like to use cocchi vermouth di Torino, but for this spritz, Dolin or Martini Rosso vermouth both work great!

Club soda 

You can use any kind of non-flavored club soda or sparkling water you like to make this drink. Finishing the spritz with club soda is not only important for dilution and balance, but it also adds extra bubbles to each sip. It does all of this without affecting the overall flavor, too!

How to make a Negroni spritz

Making this Italian spritz couldn’t be easier! Here’s how it’s done:

Helpful tips

Keep these helpful tips in mind when you’re putting your sparkling cocktail together:

Use lots of ice

Serve your spritz in a large wine glass filled to the brim with ice. The more ice, the better!

And remember to make a fresh batch of ice cubes the night before. Old, freezer-burnt ice has not-so-fresh flavors that will seep into the drink.

One stir is all it takes

Only stir your spritz one or two times. Over-stirring can water down the drink, which can ruin the great balance of flavors.

Serving suggestions

An Italian spritz cocktail is traditionally served in a tall wine glass and this recipe is no different. A tall highball glass will also do the trick.

No need for a fancy garnish here. You can keep it simple by tucking an orange slice or orange peel right into the glass or top it off with an orange twist instead.

Variations

This recipe is already well-balanced and perfect as-is. However, if you want to experiment with the flavors, try these suggestions first:

• Add gin: True to the Negroni recipe, you can add 1 ounce of gin to the cocktail to make it a little more boozy and botanical.
• Use Aperol instead of Campari: Think of Aperol as Campari’s less bitter cousin. It’s also sweeter in flavor and has a bright orange flavor.
• Use chardonnay instead of prosecco: Chardonnay is a buttery white wine that will add elegance to your drink without as many bubbles as prosecco.
• Can’t find sweet vermouth? Go ahead and use dry vermouth instead. The drink will taste drier and more aromatic, but will still be good!

Recipe