Hugo Spritz

The Hugo Spritz is an elegant and aromatic aperitif that has become a staple of summer drinking, especially in Europe. It beautifully balances the floral sweetness of elderflower liqueur with the crisp bubbles of prosecco and a bright, fresh lift from mint leaves and lime. Its low alcohol content and refreshing nature make it an incredibly sessionable drink, perfect for sipping on a sunny afternoon. It is a delightful alternative to the more common Aperol Spritz.
Hugo Spritz

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Hugo Spritz is categorized as a modern cocktail, specifically a spritz-style aperitif. It's celebrated for its light and refreshing qualities, making it a popular choice for warm weather and pre-dinner drinks. Its simple construction places it among other classic Italian-style spritzes.

Serving

Served cold with ice in a large wine glass, the Hugo Spritz is a visually appealing drink with a relatively low alcohol content. The large glass allows the aromas of mint and elderflower to be fully appreciated.
Serving size
180-240 ml / 6-8 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 8-11% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Large wine glass
Glass treatment
None

Backstory

The Hugo Spritz was created in 2005 by bartender Roland Gruber in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy. Originally, he used lemon balm syrup, but due to its limited availability, he switched to the more accessible elderflower syrup or liqueur. The drink's popularity quickly spread from the small alpine region to Germany, Austria, and beyond, becoming a European summer phenomenon.
Origin
South Tyrol, Italy, 2005

Hugo Spritz

The drink is most commonly known as the Hugo Spritz or simply Hugo. When made with the popular St-Germain elderflower liqueur, it is sometimes referred to as a St-Germain Spritz. The original name is believed to be simply 'Hugo'.
Original name
Hugo
Alternative names
  • Hugo Cocktail
  • St-Germain Spritz

Characteristics overview

The Hugo Spritz offers a delightful floral aroma of elderflower and mint, with a light, bubbly texture and a crisp, refreshing taste. Its pale, inviting color and balanced sweet-sour profile make it the quintessential summer sipper.
Flavor
Floral, herbal, sweet, citrusy, crisp
Aroma
Mint, elderflower, white grape, lime
Taste balance
Sweet, sour
Aftertaste
Clean, refreshing, floral
Fizziness
Bubbly, effervescent
Color appearance
Pale yellow-green, clear, garnished
Texture
Light, bubbly, crisp
Seasonality
Highly refreshing, summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is moderately intense, characterized by a pleasant sweetness and fruitiness from the elderflower and prosecco, balanced by light sourness from the lime. It has a low alcohol presence and high carbonation.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need a bottle of Prosecco, some elderflower liqueur, soda water, and fresh mint leaves and lime for this cocktail. The key is balancing the sweet floral liqueur with the dry sparkling wine.
  • Prosecco100 ml / 3.5 oz
    A dry (Brut) Prosecco works best to balance the sweetness.
  • Elderflower Liqueur30 ml / 1 oz
    St-Germain is a popular choice. Elderflower syrup can be used as a substitute.
  • Soda Water20 ml / 0.75 oz
    A splash to top. Also known as club soda or seltzer.
  • Fresh Mint Leaves6-8 leaves
    Gently clap the leaves between your hands before adding to release their aroma.
  • Lime1-2 slices or wedges
    Used both in the drink and for garnish.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

No special equipment is needed beyond a large wine glass for serving, a jigger for measuring, and a bar spoon for a gentle stir. This drink is built directly in the glass.
  • Large wine glass for building and serving
  • Bar spoon for gentle stirring
  • Jigger for measuring liquids

Instructions

The Hugo Spritz is simple to make by building it directly in an ice-filled wine glass. Combine mint, lime, elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, and a splash of soda, then stir gently and garnish.
1. Take a large wine glass and fill it generously with ice cubes.
2. Add 6-8 fresh mint leaves and a slice of lime to the glass.
3. Pour 30 ml (1 oz) of elderflower liqueur over the ice and mint.
4. Gently pour 100 ml (3.5 oz) of chilled Prosecco into the glass.
5. Top with a splash of soda water (about 20 ml or 0.75 oz).
6. Give the drink a very gentle stir with a bar spoon to combine the ingredients without losing carbonation.
7. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint and an additional lime wheel on the rim if desired, then serve immediately.

Garnishing

The drink is garnished with a fresh sprig of mint and a slice of lime. These garnishes enhance the drink's fresh aroma and visual appeal.
  • Sprig of fresh mint placed in the glass
  • Lime wheel or wedge on the rim or in the glass

Dietary Information

This drink is generally free from common allergens like caffeine, dairy, eggs, nuts, and gluten, and is suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets. Always check individual labels to ensure compliance.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

A single serving contains approximately 150-180 calories and 10-15 grams of carbohydrates, most of which are sugars from the liqueur and wine. It is a relatively light cocktail option.
Calories
Averagely 150-180 kcal / 627-753 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 10-15 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 10-14 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This drink is perfect for warm weather occasions like summer parties, brunches, and outdoor dining. Its light and refreshing character makes it an ideal aperitif before a meal or for casual sipping with friends.
  • Aperitif
  • Summer Party
  • Brunch
  • Alfresco Dining
  • Casual Get-together

Pairing suggestions

The Hugo Spritz pairs wonderfully with light and fresh foods. Think summer salads, seafood appetizers like shrimp cocktail, or a classic Italian charcuterie board. Its floral notes also complement goat cheese and other tangy, fresh cheeses.
  • Light appetizers
  • Salty snacks
  • Seafood
  • Summer salads
  • Charcuterie boards
  • Goat cheese

The Hugo Spritz: A Sip of Alpine Summer

The Hugo Spritz is a modern classic aperitif renowned for its refreshing and aromatic qualities. Created in Northern Italy, it combines floral elderflower liqueur, crisp Prosecco, and fresh mint into a bubbly, light, and perfectly balanced summer cocktail. It is incredibly easy to make and serves as a delightful, elegant alternative to other spritz cocktails, ideal for any warm-weather gathering.

Similar Cocktails

Aperol Spritz

Uses Aperol instead of elderflower liqueur, resulting in a bitter-orange flavor profile.

Limoncello Spritz

Uses Limoncello instead of elderflower liqueur for a distinctly zesty lemon flavor.

Campari Spritz

Uses Campari for a more intensely bitter and complex flavor compared to the floral Hugo.

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