There’s something about a Hugo Spritz cocktail that just feels like summer in a glass. Light, bubbly, and refreshing, it’s the kind of drink that goes down easy on a warm evening—whether you’re on the patio, at a picnic, or just pretending your backyard is somewhere in the Alps.
Join 500+ cozy folks for weekly recipes, crafts & good vibes — from my home to yours.
When you sign up, I’ll send you the Cozy Weekend Starter Pack—a free PDF with 3 recipes, 3 crafts, & cozy weekend vibes.
Jump to:
This one’s easy to love: St. Germain elderflower liqueur, prosecco, sparkling water, mint, and a few lime slices. That’s it. No cocktail shaker or standing in the kitchen trying to remember if it’s “shaken” or “stirred.” It comes together faster than you can say “I’m not making another pitcher of sangria.”
The Hugo Spritz has been a warm-weather favorite in parts of Europe for a while now as an aperitif (a before-dinner drink), especially in Northern Italy and Austria. It’s like the Aperol spritz’s mellow, less bitter cousin—the one who actually listens when you talk and brings the good snacks.
If you’re loving this kind of drink—light, fizzy, and easy to throw together—check out my Strawberry Cocktail & Mocktail for something fruity and fun, with or without the booze. More into bold citrus vibes? Limoncello, Arancello Rosso, and Pompelmocello have that whole sunshine-in-a-glass thing going on. And when you’re in the mood for something with a little bite and a lot of color, the Aperol Spritz has you covered.
🤔 What's the origin of this drink?
The Hugo Spritz was reportedly created in 2005, in northern Italy, by a bartender named Roland Gruber. He was looking to create a lighter, sweeter alternative to the Aperol Spritz. While the original recipe used lemon balm, it was soon replaced with elderflower syrup, which was more readily available. And the name "Hugo"...that was a random choice of name.
🌟 Fun fact
Elderflower liqueur is made by infusing alcohol with elderflower blossoms, resulting in a flavor that's often described as fruity, floral, citrus, or pear. St. Germain uses up to 1000 elderflowers per bottle!
🧾 Ingredients
- St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- Prosecco (or other bubbly wine)
- Bubbly soda water or seltzer
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lime or lemon
See the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and their measurements.
🍸 Mixing the Hugo Spritz
First, pour the St. Germain into a wine glass and then add a few mint leaves. Using a muddler or the handle end of a wooden spoon, gently press and twist the mint leaves a few times, just to gently bruise them and release the flavor of the mint's oils into the liqueur.
Then add the prosecco or sparkling wine, and finally the soda water or seltzer. If you don't have any soda water handy, a splash or regular water works just fine too.
Finally, toss in some slices of lime or lemon and a few ice cubes, and garnish with a lime wheel.
Serve and enjoy!
🍾 Mocktail Variations
- 🥂 Classic Hugo Mocktail - Swap out the prosecco for sparkling white grape juice or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Use elderflower syrup instead of liqueur.
- 🍓 Berry Hugo - Start with elderflower syrup and add a splash of berry juice (like raspberry or strawberry), top with club soda or lemon-lime seltzer, and toss in a few fresh berries with the mint for a little extra flair.
- 🍋 Citrus Hugo - Use elderflower syrup with lemon or grapefruit sparkling water, add an orange slice along with the lime for extra brightness, and maybe a squeeze of fresh lemon for even more zing.
- 🌿 Cucumber-Mint Hugo - Use elderflower syrup and soda water for the base, and muddle a slice or two of cucumber with the mint before adding ice and a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
❓ FAQ
For the Hugo Spritz, go with fresh spearmint. It’s the kind you’re probably already growing (or buying), and has that light, sweet minty flavor that plays nice with the elderflower and prosecco. Peppermint’s a little too bold here. And always, always use fresh mint (not dried) for this cocktail.
It’s a sweet, floral liqueur (like St Germain) made from elderflowers. Most liquor stores carry it—it’s usually near the cordials or flavored liqueurs.
Any glass works, honestly. But a big wine glass or stemless goblet gives it that casual-but-fancy look we’re going for.
You can prep the lime and mint in the pitcher and chill the elderflower liqueur, but don’t add prosecco or soda until serving time—bubbles wait for no one.
Anything light: charcuterie, cheese, olives, crackers, shrimp cocktail… basically a backyard snack board.
Looking for more refreshing summertime drinks? Check out a few more of our recipes now!
- Strawberry Cocktail & Mocktail
- Italian Aperol Spritz with Orange
- Limoncello, Arancello Rosso, and Pompelmocello
- Watermelon Lemonade with Rosemary
- Switchel - Homemade Gatorade
Did you make this Hugo Spritz? Let us know in the comments below!
📝 Recipe
Hugo Spritz Cocktail
Ingredients
- ½ ounce St Germain elderflower liqueur
- 4 ounces Prosecco (or other bubbly wine)
- 1 ounce soda water or seltzer
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lime or lemon slices
Instructions
- First, pour the St. Germain into a wine glass and then add a few mint leaves.
- Using a muddler or the handle end of a wooden spoon, gently press and twist the mint leaves a few times, just to gently bruise them and release the flavor of the mint's oils into the liqueur.
- Then add the prosecco or sparkling wine, and finally the soda water or seltzer. If you don't have any soda water handy, a splash or regular water works just fine too.
- Finally, toss in some slices of lime or lemon and a few ice cubes, and garnish with a lime wheel.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
🍾 Mocktail Variations
- 🥂 Classic Hugo Mocktail - Swap out the prosecco for sparkling white grape juice or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Use elderflower syrup instead of liqueur.
- 🍓 Berry Hugo - Start with elderflower syrup and add a splash of berry juice (like raspberry or strawberry), top with club soda or lemon-lime seltzer, and toss in a few fresh berries with the mint for a little extra flair.
- 🍋 Citrus Hugo - Use elderflower syrup with lemon or grapefruit sparkling water, add an orange slice along with the lime for extra brightness, and maybe a squeeze of fresh lemon for even more zing.
- 🌿 Cucumber-Mint Hugo - Use elderflower syrup and soda water for the base, and muddle a slice or two of cucumber with the mint before adding ice and a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
- 😊 Suggestion: If you enjoy this, you're gonna love our Italian Aperol Spritz with Orange!
Leave a Reply