The Hugo Spritz is an effervescent cocktail that combines prosecco, elderflower liqueur, seltzer, lime, and mint. Its flavor is delicate and refreshing making it the perfect aperitivo to any meal.
Editor’s Note: Originally published on 3/15/2019. Updated with expanded info.
The Hugo drink is a cocktail that originated in the small Alpine town of Naturno, Italy just south of the Austrian border and was inspired by the elder trees native to that area.
The original recipe included elderflower syrup, which we’ve replaced with elderflower liqueur.
We’ve also added lime to our Hugo spritz because it further enhances the flavor and compliments both the mint and the elderflower flavors.
The Hugo spritz is great served at brunch, barbecues, and gatherings and the recipe can be increased to make a large pitcher for easier serving.
Hugo spritz ingredients
- Prosecco. We use prosecco for the Hugo spritz, but any sparkling white wine would work perfectly here.
- Elderflower liqueur. St. Germaine and St. Elder are two brands of elderflower liqueur that can be used for the Hugo spritz. St. Elder tends to be more budget-friendly than the St. Germaine, but use any brand you’d like. If you prefer less alcohol, you can use an elderflower syrup in its place.
- Seltzer. We used lemon-lime flavored seltzer as it adds just a touch of extra flavor. Any sparkling plain or lime-flavored seltzer or club soda would work well here.
- Fresh mint leaves. Don’t skip the step of gently whacking the mint leaves before placing them in the glass. This helps to release their oil and flavor!
- Lime. Lime slices make a beautiful garnish and add additional flavor to the Hugo cocktail.
How to make a Hugo Spritz cocktail
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Place 6 mint leaves in the palm of your hand and lightly whack them with your other hand. Then, place the mint leaves in the glass.
- Add 1 ounce of elderflower liqueur, 2 ounces of sparkling water or seltzer, and 3 slices of lime.
- Fill the glass to the top with prosecco and stir gently. Serve immediately and enjoy!
This Hugo spritz recipe is easy and requires little to no effort. In fact, the hardest part might be uncorking the prosecco!
What I love most about the Hugo spritz is that while it’s refreshing, its taste is anything but simple, and the elderflower adds a bit of mystique.
More refreshing cocktails
Here are a few of our favorite refreshing and effervescent cocktails, all of which include prosecco and are super easy!
- Aperol Spritz– the bitter orange cocktail that’s a must in Italy.
- Limoncello Spritz – lemon, mint, limoncello and prosecco.
- Lavender French 75 – lavender syrup, prosecco, and gin.
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Hugo Spritz
Ingredients
- 4 cubes ice
- 1 oz Elderflower liqueur, such as St. Germain or St. Elder
- 2 oz Seltzer or sparkling water
- 6 oz Prosecco
- 3 slices lime for garnish
- 6 leaves mint for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Place the mint leaves in the palm of one hand and gently whack them with the other hand to release the oils and flavor. Then, hand tear the leaves and place in the glass.
- Add 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, 2 ounces sparkling water or seltzer, and lime slices.
- Fill the glass to top with prosecco and give a gentle stir. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the amount of Elderflower liqueur based on the size of your glass and your taste.
- We approximated 6 oz of Prosecco, but really just fill the glass to the top. The amount can vary depending on your glass.
- Add as much mint and lime slices as you desire!
- For a non-alcoholic version, replace the elderflower liqueur with elderflower simple syrup, and replace the prosecco with club soda and a splash of lemonade or limeade.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was originally published on March 15, 2019. It was completely updated on May 11, 2023.
Thank you for this recipe. I had this in Zagreb Croatia and the cocktail also had vodka – too strong for me!
Hi Deborah, thanks for the comment. Was our recipe too strong for you or the one you had in Croatia? It would be helpful if you could clarify for us. Thanks!
I had one of these for the first time last night at a local oyster bar. It was so delicious, I just had to find out if there was a recipe online or whether it was created by some guy at the oyster bar named Hugo! Luckily, I found this! Thanks!
Love, love, love this! Only problem is I can’t keep the ingredients in the house because everyone in my family loves it too.
Hi Fran, thanks for the comment and so happy you and your family enjoy this one. It’s definitely great on a hot summer day!
Throw in four or five pomegranate seeds, or fresh cranberries for a little color. I prefer a dryer Prosecco, even a brut champagne.
Hi Karie, thanks for the comment and happy to hear you liked the recipe.
Love this recipe – is it possible to add the measurements for a pitcher??
Hi Nichola, so happy you liked the recipe! You can use the + sign next to “servings” in the recipe card to scale the recipe up.
Forgot to fill in my rating
I enjoy Jim’s YouTube channel, so I was glad to see this pop up when I searched for a recipe for a Hugo cocktail!
My wife’s version of this is Gin, elderflower syrup (available at ikea), Prosecco, mint leaves and club soda. I’m usually the cook and bartender, but she’s got this one down better than I can do.
A great drink for a hot summer afternoon!
Hi Glenn, thanks so much for watching and I really appreciate the comment!
Loved this – it’s so refreshing! For some reason mint is hard to find in local groceries, but the drink is fine without it.
Hi Fran, thanks for your comment and so happy you liked this one!
Hi! I love Hugo spritzes, in Italy we use elderflower syrup which can be found just about everywhere, in supermarkets! Thx for sharing this drink ‘news’.
Hi Graziella, thank you for your comment and happy you enjoyed the post!
How do I adjust recipe for a crowd? Please help!
Hi. If you hover over the recipe card servings information on your computer there is a slider that adjusts servings and will adjust all ingredients accordingly. It works on your phone too. For example, a full bottle of prosecco (750 ml) will be enough for 4 servings.
Crisp and effervescent
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Delicious!
Thank you!
I Made this recipe exact but it seemed like something f was missing g compared to the ones we had in Europe. This drink was not as sweet. Would tonic water work instead of soda water? Or is there an elderflower syrup vs liquor?
Hi Eileen – thank you for your comment. Yes, as mentioned above in the post, the original drink was made using elderflower syrup instead of the liqueur so yes, you can definitely try it with the syrup and adjust for how sweet you like it. I would probably not use tonic water as it has a very distinct taste and may change the flavor of the drink, but feel free to experiment!
I love this! I have to make a cocktail (or two) to go with a menu of spring lamb dishes. Do you think this would work to go with it?
Hi Valentina, I would say have this one before the meal as a pre dinner drink. I’m hard pressed to think of a better pairing for lamb than a nice red wine like Shiraz.
Sound like a plan! Thank you!