Hugo Spritz: What It Is and How to Make It

A Hugo Spritz is a light, floral cocktail made with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur or syrup, soda water, fresh mint, lime, and ice. It is crisp, gently sweet, and highly aromatic—a pale alternative to the bittersweet orange profile of an Aperol Spritz.

The drink looks elegant, but it takes about five minutes to build directly in a wine glass. The secret is not complicated technique; it is balancing the elderflower, bubbles, and mint so each stays fresh and distinct.

What Is a Hugo Spritz?

A Hugo Spritz is a sparkling aperitivo associated with South Tyrol in northern Italy. Popular accounts credit bartender Roland Gruber with creating the drink in 2005, originally using lemon balm syrup before elderflower became the better-known flavor. Today, many bars make the Hugo with elderflower liqueur, while syrup or cordial remains a delicious lower-alcohol option.

Unlike an Aperol Spritz, a Hugo does not rely on a bitter orange aperitif. Its character comes from fragrant elderflower, bright sparkling wine, cooling mint, and a small splash of soda. The result is softer, more botanical, and usually a little sweeter.

What’s in a Hugo Spritz?

The modern Hugo Spritz cocktail has five core components. Recipes vary, but a balanced single-glass version uses more Prosecco than elderflower liqueur and finishes with just enough soda to lengthen the drink.

Choose a dry or extra-dry Prosecco rather than a very sweet sparkling wine. Elderflower already brings sweetness, so a crisp wine keeps the cocktail refreshing. Plain, highly carbonated soda water is best; flavored sparkling water can blur the clean floral profile.

For a lighter alternative, replace the 1 ounce of elderflower liqueur with 1/2 ounce (15 ml) of elderflower cordial and adjust to taste. The Prosecco means the finished drink is still alcoholic.

How to Make a Hugo Spritz

You do not need a cocktail shaker. Build the drink in a large wine glass so the Prosecco keeps as much carbonation as possible.

Ingredients for One Cocktail

• 6–8 fresh mint leaves

• 1 oz (30 ml) elderflower liqueur

• 3 oz (90 ml) chilled Prosecco

• 1 oz (30 ml) chilled soda water

• 1 lime wheel or wedge

• Ice

• 1 fresh mint sprig, for garnish

Method

1. Place the mint leaves in a large wine glass. Press them once or twice very gently with a bar spoon—just enough to release their aroma, not enough to tear them into pieces.

2. Fill the glass generously with ice.

3. Pour in the elderflower liqueur, followed by the chilled Prosecco and soda water.

4. Stir slowly two or three times to combine without flattening the bubbles.

5. Garnish with a lime wheel and a fresh mint sprig. Clap the sprig lightly between your palms before adding it to release its fragrance.

Serve immediately while the drink is cold and lively. If the first sip feels too sweet, add another splash of soda. If it tastes thin, add a little more Prosecco rather than more liqueur.

What Does a Hugo Spritz Taste Like?

A well-made Hugo Spritz tastes floral first, then crisp and citrusy, with a cool mint aroma above the glass. Prosecco contributes apple, pear, or stone-fruit notes depending on the bottle, while soda keeps the finish light.

It should not taste like perfume or mint mouthwash. Too much elderflower makes the drink syrupy, and aggressively muddled mint can turn grassy or bitter. The best version is aromatic without becoming heavy.

Compared with an Aperol Spritz, the Hugo is less bitter and less orange-forward. Compared with a French 75, it is gentler because it usually contains no gin or lemon juice. It belongs to the same relaxed family of sparkling aperitivo drinks, but its identity is unmistakably floral.

How to Make the Best Hugo Spritz

1. Chill Everything First

Cold Prosecco, soda water, and glassware help the drink stay sparkling. Warm ingredients melt the ice quickly and cause unnecessary dilution.

2. Treat the Mint Gently

Mint should perfume the cocktail, not cloud it with torn leaves. A light press or quick clap is enough. Avoid hard muddling.

3. Add the Bubbles Last

Pour the Prosecco and soda after the liqueur, then stir minimally. Shaking or vigorous mixing drives out carbonation.

4. Keep the Garnish Simple

One lime wheel and one healthy mint sprig are enough. A few edible elderflowers can be beautiful when available, but the glass should still be easy to drink from.

Easy Hugo Spritz Variations

These versions keep the same sparkling structure while changing the flavor or strength.

Cucumber Hugo Spritz

Add two thin cucumber ribbons to the glass before the ice. Keep the elderflower measurement unchanged. Cucumber reinforces the drink's fresh, green character without covering the mint.

Hugo Limone Spritz

For a brighter citrus riff, reduce the elderflower liqueur to 3/4 ounce and add 1 teaspoon Como Speziale Amalfi Limone. Garnish with a lemon wheel instead of lime. This is a Hugo-inspired variation, not the classic recipe. Amalfi Limone is available through our Italian offline store, Casa 43.

Pitcher Hugo Spritz for Six

Add 6 ounces elderflower liqueur and a loose handful of mint to a chilled pitcher. Just before serving, gently add one 750 ml bottle of prosecco and 6 ounces soda water. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish each glass separately. Do not add ice to the pitcher, where it will dilute the final servings.

A Floral Spritz Worth Remembering

The Hugo Spritz is easy to understand and even easier to make: prosecco supplies the sparkle, elderflower provides the floral center, soda adds lift, and mint and lime keep everything fresh. Start with the 3:1:1 formula, use cold ingredients, and adjust the final sweetness with soda rather than piling on more ice.

For a brighter citrus variation, use the Hugo Limone formula above with Como Speziale Amalfi Limone, which complements the mint and bubbles without replacing the drink's floral character. Amalfi Limone is available through Casa 43.