Whether you just returned from Italy and don’t want to wake from the dream, or you’re just craving one the best summer cocktails around, this Hugo Spritz recipe is crisp, refreshing, and perfectly balanced.
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There’s no doubt Italians love their spritzes. It’s almost a sin not to get a spritz when you visit! While the Aperol Spritz has gotten a lot of attention over the years, the Hugo Spritz has quietly become a dark horse favorite, gaining more and more popularity.
So, what is a Hugo Spritz? It’s a super refreshing Italian cocktail often enjoyed as an aperitivo (a pre-dinner sipper), made with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur (often St-Germain), soda water, fresh mint, and lime for garnish. It’s light, aromatic, crisp, and bubbly, with a touch of sweetness. Whenever I travel to Italy, they’re in the hands of locals and tourists alike – pretty much any time of day – because why not!
Serve them like they do in Italy, with Castelvetrano olives or Citrus Marinated Olives, taralli crackers, and Marcona almonds.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ultra refreshing: it’s bright, cool, and oh-so Italian.
- The ultimate summer cocktail: a lower ABV than most cocktails makes it the perfect sipper!
- Easy to make: you can make it without any fancy tools.
- Make a big batch: it’s a pitcher-perfect cocktail.
Hugo Spritz Ingredients
Here’s what you need to get sippin’!
- Dry Prosecco – a brut (dry) Prosecco is the crisp and refreshing “base” for our cocktail, balancing the sweetness of the elderflower liqueur with bright bubbles and a clean finish. Don’t have Italian Prosecco on hand? Any good-quality, dry sparkling wine works.
- Elderflower liqueur (St-Germain) – elderflower liqueur is floral and lightly sweet, made from (you guessed it), elderflowers! St-Germain is the best of its kind (and the classic) for a reason, with elegant notes of pear, citrus, and honeysuckle.
- Soda water – a splash of soda water adds extra fizz and lightens up the cocktail. San Pellegrino is a great option because of its fine bubbles and crisp finish. If you prefer to skip it, just add in an extra ounce of Prosecco!
- Fresh mint – mint is just the herb to add freshness and cooling aromas. It’s delicate without being overpowering.
- Lime wheel (to garnish) – a lime wheel, used as a garnish, adds an extra pop of citrusy aroma to complement the mint and elderflower.
- Ice – this cocktail is served chilled with plenty of ice!
How to Make a Hugo Spritz
Let’s make a perfectly balanced Hugo Spritz in 5 easy steps! This is an outline; for the full recipe, see the recipe card below.
Step 1: Add ice three-quarters of the way up a large wine glass.
Step 2: Clap mint leaves between your hands to release the oils. Drop them in the glass.
Step 3: Add the liqueur, then prosecco, and then the soda water.
Step 4: Stir twice.
Step 5: Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel. Enjoy!
Variations
Missing ingredients or just want to change things up? Here are some fun spins on the classic Hugo Spritz:
- St-Germain Spritz: a Hugo Spritz using St-Germain and no mint.
- Sweeter 3:2:1 ratio: lower the prosecco by an ounce and increase the elderflower liqueur by an ounce for a sweeter, more floral cocktail!
- Different herbs: try basil or rosemary.
- No soda water: make sure to up the prosecco by an ounce!
- Add fruit: lightly crush a few sliced peaches, strawberries, or raspberries.
- Mocktail: use non-alcoholic, dry sparkling wine and elderflower syrup!
My Pro Tip
Tips and Tricks
- Use dry (brut) Prosecco: elderflower liqueur is sweet so you don’t want a sweet sparkling wine too!
- Clap the mint, don’t muddle: this releases the aromatic oils without overdoing it, making the cocktail bitter and grassy.
- Stir gently: over-stirring can destroy the fizz!
- Make it right before serving: this cocktail loses its sparkle if it sits too long.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, totally! Double, triple, quadruple, etc. the recipe and make in a pitcher!
While they’re both classic Italian spritz cocktails made with dry Prosecco and soda water, a Hugo Spritz is floral and refreshing with elderflower liqueur, mint, and lime, while an Aperol Spritz is bittersweet and citrusy with Aperol’s signature orange and herbal notes. The Hugo is lighter and more delicate, while the Aperol Spritz has a bolder, more bitter flavor.
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Hugo Spritz Recipe
Equipment
- Large wine glass
- Cocktail jigger (recommended but not required)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces dry, brut Prosecco
- 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, preferably St-Germain
- 1 ounce soda water, San Pellegrino (best) or Top Chico (second best)
- 5 fresh mint leaves, plus a sprig to garnish
- 1 lime wheel, to garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Add ice three-quarters of the way up a large wine glass.
- Gently clap mint leaves between your hands a few times to release the oils, and then drop them in the glass.
- Add the liqueur, then prosecco, and then the soda water.
- Stir twice.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel. Enjoy right away!
Video
Notes
- Clap mint between your hands instead of muddling is the traditional technique because it releases the fresh aromatic oils without crushing the leaves and releasing bitter, grassy flavors.
- Don’t have a jigger? Measure out ½ cup Prosecco, 2 tablespoons liqueur, and 2 tablespoons soda water.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Never heard of this drink but glad I tried it!
Delicious!!!
The typical 3, 2, 1 ratio used in a lot of recipes is too sweet. This one is perfect! Thanks!!