If you’re looking for a refreshing, alcohol-light cocktail that’s perfect for summer, look no further than the Hugo Spritz.
I first discovered this drink when it popped off on social media around the summer of 2023. Presented as a less bitter alternative to the iconic orange Aperol Spritz, all the influencers seemed to be drinking this during their Euro Summer escapades, prompting Forbes to declare it the “Drink of the Summer” in 2023.
I’m a sucker for a green drink, whether that be smoothies and juices or cocktails, so the minute I saw this leafy green beauty blowing up on Tiktok I knew I had to try making it at home. To my surprise, it exceeded all my expectations.
It’s light, floral, and in my opinion, as close to a universally enjoyable drink as you could possibly find. The kind of thing you’d serve at weddings as a signature cocktail because you’d be hard pressed to find someone who really hated this flavor profile. This honestly might be my favorite cocktail to make and enjoy at home (which is how you know that it has a great effort to payoff ratio 😅).
The classic Hugo Spritz is a long, refreshing cocktail that’s relatively low in alcohol compared to many other cocktails, making it perfect for sipping slowly throughout the evening without ruining the next morning.
Unfortunately, I found most of the recipes circulating on the internet to be insufficient in both volume and alcohol content, at least for me personally. I found most of the internet’s Hugo Spritz recipes weren’t even high enough in volume to fill a standard wine glass HALFway. It left me wondering – did they use stock photos or did they actually make the drink themselves?
Anyways, after much trial and error, I think I’ve landed on the perfect single serving Hugo Spritz recipe – large enough to fill a wine glass, and sufficient in alcohol content to make 1 drink feel like more than enough.
What is a Hugo Spritz?
A Hugo Spritz is a long, fizzy, prosecco-based cocktail traditionally served as an aperitivo in Italy, where this drink originated from.
It was created in 2005 by Roland Gruber, at Bar San Zeno, in Naturno, a small alpine village in the northernmost region of Italy, bordering Austria and Switzerland. Over 90% of the population speaks German as a first language, which is perhaps why Roland almost named the drink the “Otto” spritz. He changed it to Hugo Spritz after deciding (accurately, in my opinion) that “it sounded better”.
Like other classic Italian aperitivo drinks (like the more well known Aperol Spritz), the Hugo Spritz is dry and botanical, but it is notably sweeter and less bitter. Although aperitivos are usually enjoyed as pre-dinner, happy-hour drinks to stimulate the appetite, Hugo Spritzes can pair well with full meals as well.
What’s in a Hugo Spritz?
Although every bartender has their own variation, there are five ingredients that define a classic Hugo Spritz:
- Elderflower Liqueur – This is the signature ingredient that gives the cocktail its delicate floral sweetness. While several brands make elderflower liqueur, St-Germain is by far the most well-known and frequently cited in recipes. It adds notes of elderflower, pear, citrus, and honeysuckle that make the drink taste elegant without being overly sweet.
- Fresh Mint – Fresh mint provides the cocktail’s bright herbal aroma and unmistakable green appearance.
- Prosecco – An extra dry (Brut) prosecco provides the main alcohol and bulk of this drink. Its crisp acidity and bubbliness balance the sweetness of the elderflower liqueur.
- Club Soda – A splash of club soda lightens the drink even further and gives it the signature long, easy-drinking style.
- Lime – A fresh lime wedge adds just enough acidity to make it taste refreshing.
What does a Hugo Spritz taste like?
Without being facetious, it tastes exactly how you’d expect it to taste based on how it looks: green, floral, lightly sweet, and totally delicious.
The elderflower liqueur adds delicate floral and fruity notes, while the fresh mint gives the drink a cooling finish. Combined with crisp prosecco and sparkling club soda, every sip feels light and refreshing rather than overly syrupy.
Compared to an Aperol Spritz, a Hugo Spritz is noticeably less bitter and a touch sweeter, making it an excellent choice for people who don’t usually enjoy bitter aperitifs.
It’s the kind of cocktail you can happily sip for an hour by the pool, at the beach, on a patio, or while settling in for your tenth rewatch of your favorite comfort show.
What dishes pair well with a Hugo Spritz?
Hugo Spritz pairs best with fresh, light dishes rather than rich or heavily spiced meals.
- Light Pasta Dishes – Think lemon pasta, cacio e pepe, seafood linguine, pesto pasta, or any simple olive oil-based pasta.
- Seafood – Grilled shrimp, scallops, oysters, white fish, smoked salmon, or calamari are classic pairings. The bubbles and citrus cut through the richness of seafood without overwhelming its delicate flavor.
- Savory Appetizers – Like all aperitivos, Hugo Spritzes pair well with savory appetizers like burrata, bruschetta, prosciutto, olives, marinated vegetables, focaccia.
- Fresh Salads – Salads featuring arugula, citrus, cucumber, goat cheese, burrata, or fresh herbs complement the drink’s floral and herbal notes particularly well.
- Soft Cheeses – Fresh mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, and creamy goat cheese pair well with this bright, floral spritz.
Ingredients
- 6 mint sprigs
- 1/2 Lime
- 1.5 oz Elderflower liqueur (St. Germain is the classic brand used for Hugo Spritzes. Investing in one bottle of this is well worth it, in my opinion).
- 6 ounces prosecco
- 3 ounces club soda
- Ice
Supplies
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Jigger (0.5 oz /1 oz, or 0.75 oz / 1.5 oz can both work)
- Large wine glass
- Muddler (a wooden spatula also works for this)
- Knife
- Cutting Board
How to Make a Hugo Spritz
1. Muddle the mint in a cocktail shaker.
Most recipes on the internet tell you to muddle mint IN the wine glass - but I've never owned a wine glass thick enough to attempt this with.
I prefer muddling stress free in a metal cocktail shaker. This way, you can go ham crushing the mint leaves to release their fragrant juices.
2. Add lime juice and elderflower liqueur.
Cut the half lime into 2 pieces, and put one aside for garnish. Then squeeze the juice of 1 quarter lime into the cocktail shaker (it should be about 0.5 ounces). Add the 1.5 ounces of elderflower liqueur to the cocktail shaker as well. Mix well with the crushed mint leaves.
3. Garnish the glass.
Add thin slices of lime and a couple sprigs of mint inside the glass. You can add a lime wedge to the edge of the glass as well, if you'd like.
4. Strain cocktail shaker mix into wine glass.
Cover the cocktail shaker with the strainer top, and pour the liquid into your wine glass, making sure to prevent the muddled mint leaf debris from getting into the glass.
5. Pour prosecco and club soda into the wine glass.
Add 6 ounces of prosecco and 3 ounces of club soda to the wine glass. Stir well to distribute the elderflower mint mixture throughout the drink.
6. Add ice, stir, and serve immediately.
Add ice to fill the glass to your desired volume level, stir well, and add more mint leaf sprigs as garnish to your liking (I like my drinks looking like mini jungles 🌱🌴). Enjoy!
The Perfect Hugo Spritz Recipe
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
- Cocktail Jigger (1.5 oz / 0.75 oz preferred)
- Large wine glass
- Muddler (a wooden spatula also works for this)
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 6 mint sprigs
- 1/2 Lime
- 1.5 oz Elderflower liquer
- 6 ounces prosecco
- 3 ounces club soda
- 3-5 cubes Ice
Instructions
- Muddle the mint in a cocktail shaker.
- Add about 0.5 ounces of fresh lime juice and 1.5 ounces of elderflower liqueur to the cocktail shaker as well. Mix well with the crushed mint leaves. Save the rest of the lime for garnish.
- Garnish the glass: add thin slices of lime and a couple sprigs of mint. You can add a lime wedge to the edge of the glass as well, if you'd like.
- Cover the cocktail shaker with the strainer top, and pour the liquid into your wine glass, making sure to prevent the muddled mint leaf debris from getting into the glass.
- Pour 6 ounces of prosecco and 3 ounces of club soda into the wine glass. Stir well.
- Add ice, stir, and serve immediately.
