I absolutely LOVE a spritz! I have always been a big fan of any kind of spritz ( limoncello spritz and a campari spritz are two of my favorites!). I was in Italy over the summer for a wedding and everyone was ordering Hugo Spritz (a drink that had truthfully never been on my radar before) but after one sip I was hooked! It’s earthy, sweet and floral tasting and most of all super refreshing! The key ingredient is elderflower liqueur which gives it its distinct taste and then as with all spritz recipes its topped with bubbly prosecco, a splash of soda water and a squeeze of lime juice.
This was my first time making a Hugo Spritz at home and I loved it! Easy and so delicious! It’s my new favorite cocktail.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love A Hugo Spritz
- It is incredibly simple to make in just minutes using only a handful of ingredients
- It’s light, refreshing and the perfect balance of sweet and acidic making it the perfect refreshing drink for a hot summers days.
- Don’t want an alcoholic beverage? Leave out the prosecco and use elderflower cordial in place of the liqueur for a delicious mocktail option!
Ingredients You Need For Hugo Spritz
- Fresh mint leaves: You can gently muddle the mint or rub it between your hands which releases the essential oils
- Elderflower Liqueur: St-Germain Elderflower liqueur is the most popular brand of elderflower liqueur, but there are more affordable brands of elderflower liqueur that you can use in its place. It is an essential ingredient for this recipe, but you can use elderflower cordial as a non-alcoholic option.
- Soda water: Soda water and club soda are the same. You could also get fancy and use San Pellegrino or Perrier for a slightly less bubbly drink while the soda water will ensures a longer lasting bubbly result. You can also use seltzer water, which is a common sparkling water option.
- Prosecco: Prosecco is a sparkling wine from Italy and is known for its floral notes. It is typically dry, but the combination of the other ingredients give you a smooth and sweet result. It is a classic choice for this Hugo spritz. You can alternatively use champagne or cava if you prefer.
- Fresh lime juice: I prefer using freshly squeezed lime juice for this. You can use a store-bought lime juice also, but will want to make sure it is 100% juice.
- Garnishes: A slice of fresh lime or a lime wedge and a mint sprig are the perfect finish!
How To Make This Hugo Spritz Cocktail Recipe
- Rub the mint leaves between your hands for 10 seconds to release the essential oils and then place them in a wine glass.
- Add a large scoop of ice cubes to a large wine glass, followed by the St Germain, prosecco, soda water, and lime juice.
- Gently stir. Garnish with lime and mint before serving this refreshing cocktail.
Common Questions
The Hugo Spritz originated in a small Italian town in Northern Italy, in the northern Italian province of South Tyrol, along the Austrian border. It gained its popularity in Europe as the perfect drink for the summer months, and thanks to social media and TikTok it is gaining ground in the United States. The Hugo Spritz gets its name from the main ingredient, elderflower liqueur, which is also known as “Hugo.” A bartender named Roland Gruber created it as an alternative to the Aperol Spritz. The elderflower spritz ingredients have changed along the way—the original recipe called for lemon balm syrup, which was later replaced with elderflower syrup.
Hugo and Aperol are very similar in their ingredients. The main difference is that Hugo Spritz uses a different type of aperitif than Aperol Spritzes. Hugo Spritz is a sweet elderflower cocktail with a floral taste, while Aperol has a more bitter orange flavor. Hugo Spritzes also has a lower alcohol level than Aperol Spritzes.
Prosecco and champagne are both sparkling wines but are very different. Prosecco is generally more fruity and lighter in flavor, with notes of fruit pear, apple, honeysuckle, and floral flavors. Dry champagne is similar in taste to a dry white wine. It is also fruity but has the added flavor of nuts, cream, and toast. Champagne has bigger bubbles than prosecco and the aging process is much longer for champagne. Prosecco will not last as long in your liquor cabinet as champagne will. Both are great drinks, and in a pinch, you could use them interchangeably.
Elderflower liqueur is made from fresh elderflower blossoms picked from an elderflower bush. St Germain elderflower liqueur is the most popular brand. It is a French liqueur made with 1000 hand-picked fresh elderflowers per bottle, which I find fascinating. Do they literally count 1,000 blossoms each time? Anyway, elderflower liqueur has a floral and fruity essence with notes of elderflower, guava, and melon. This floral liqueur is often used in cocktails or mixed drinks.
I like serving this Elderflower cocktail with mint leaves and a slice of lime, but you could get creative and serve it with a slice of lemon, sprig of rosemary or orange or pink grapefruit wedge.
Here are a few appetizers to enjoy with this elderflower cocktail:
- Spicy Feta Dip
- Balsamic Zucchini & Bell Pepper Crostini
- Whipped Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey
- Prosciutto Wrapped Pears with Gorgonzola
- Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Board
- Whipped Cheese with Blistered Tomatoes
- Goat Cheese, Pesto & Sundried Tomato Tower
If you make this Elderflower Spritz Cocktail let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think, or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Hugo Spritz
Ingredients
- 5 Mint leaves
- 1 oz Elderflower Liqueur such as St Germain
- 2 oz Soda water
- 5 oz Prosecco (or cava or champagne)
- 1 tsp Fresh lime juice
- 1 slice Lime for garnish
- 1 Sprig mint for garnish
Instructions
- Rub the mint leaves between your hands for 10 seconds to release the essential oils and then place them in a wine glass.
- Add a large scoop of ice followed by the Elderflower Liqueur, Prosecco, Soda water and Lime juice. Gently stir. Garnish with lime and mint before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a comment below and let us know how it was!
This was my first time making a Hugo Spritz at home and I loved it! Easy and so delicious! It’s my new favorite cocktail.
I’ve tried a few different Hugo Spritz recipes and this one is definitely my favorite! The perfect balance of flavors and I love the addition of lime juice, so good!