Hugo Spritz

I love the idea behind a sparkling wine cocktail, but I’m not always into the bitterness of the omnipresent Aperol Spritz. Enter the Hugo Spritz. Featuring floral, fruity St-Germain, fresh lime, and mint, it’s the perfect crisp alternative to heavier drinks. Whether I’m hanging by the pool or throwing a backyard party, it’s my go-to summer sip. It’s also low ABV, so I can enjoy them from afternoon 'til night…

Though the Hugo Spritz was coined the “sip of the summer” in 2023, it’s actually been around for much longer. In 2005, bar manager Roland Gruber created the Hugo Spritz in Northern Italy as an alternative to the ever-popular Aperol Spritz. The drink has since spread far beyond Italy’s borders, becoming a popular choice for a warm-weather cocktail. Now that it’s on your radar, you’re going to be mixing them up this summer and for a long time to come.

How To Make A Hugo Spritz

INGREDIENTS

• St-Germain: This elderflower liqueur is among the most popular in the world, loved for its floral, honey, peach, and pear notes. It’s slightly syrupy with plenty of sweetness making it the perfect base for a tart lime juice and dry Prosecco.

• Mint & Lime: The mint provides an herbaceous, cooling element while the lime brings floral tartness, balancing the sweetness of the St-Germain.

• Prosecco: You can’t have a spritz without bubbles, so this sparkling Italian white wine is crucial.

• Soda Water: Soda water is great for adding volume and bubbles without more alcohol. Sparkling water, seltzer, or club soda will work for this spritz, but you should skip the tonic water for this one.

• Garnish: The muddled mint and lime juice are what make this a Hugo spritz—as opposed to a regular St-Germain Spritz—so it’s only natural to use them for garnish as well. Before adding the mint leaf garnish, hold the leaves in your palm and give them a few sturdy slaps with your other hand to help release the mint oils and perfume the drink.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Combine the St-Germain and mint sprig in your favorite wine glass. Gently muddle and let sit for 3 minutes. Spritzes are typically served in a wine glass, so be sure to have a gentle hand when muddling. Gently smash the mint with the muddler, twisting slightly to bruise the leaves and encourage the mint to release its flavor.

Add ice, the Prosecco, and the soda water and stir briefly and gently to combine. Be sure to stir gently to ensure the ice doesn’t cause the drink to slosh over the sides. Now is a good time to taste! If you want it a little sweeter, add a 1/2 ounce of St-Germain. If it’s a little too strong, add an extra splash of soda water. Not strong enough? More Prosecco.

Garnish with a mint sprig and lime. Mint and lime is a classic cocktail flavoring combo, so it doesn’t hurt to showcase it once more in the garnish to drive home the flavors in the drink.

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• How do I muddle mint? Gently smash the mint with the muddler, twisting slightly to bruise the leaves and encourage the mint to release its flavor. No worries if you didn’t spring for the at-home bar kit with the muddler yet—you can also use the back of a spoon or a pestle to break down the mint leaves in the glass.
• What kind of ice is best for a Hugo Spritz? Selecting the right kind of ice is crucial to building a well-balanced cocktail. For the Hugo Spritz, the right kind of ice is a small to medium cube. Crushed ice would melt too fast, leading to a watered-down drink, and a large cube or sphere would make this tough to stir and sip.
• What kind of glass for a Hugo Spritz? Spritzes are typically served in a wine glass but if you prefer a stemless glass, you can opt for a stemless wine glass or even a rocks glass.
• Is club soda or soda water better in a Hugo Spritz? While soda water is just a blanket term for any seltzer or sparkling water, club soda is carbonated water with added minerals that can give it a slightly salty, earthy taste.
• What is the difference between a Hugo Spritz and a St-Germain Spritz? Both drinks have St. Germain, prosecco, and soda water but the Hugo Spritz features fresh lime juice and mint while the St. Germain Spritz has a bit of fresh lemon.
• How did the Hugo Spritz become the drink of the summer in 2023? Last May we declared the Hugo Spritz as the drink of summer 2023 because it exploded in popularity on social media with over 290 million views on TikTok.
• Variations on a Hugo Spritz: Switch up the Prosecco and try this with a sparkling rosé to make this a rosé hugo spritz.