Hugo Spritz Cocktail Recipe

Light, floral, crisp, and wonderfully easy to sip, a Hugo Spritz is the kind of cocktail that feels made for warm afternoons. It is refreshing without being heavy, sweet without being syrupy, and simple enough to mix in just a few minutes. With elderflower liqueur, chilled prosecco, sparkling water, fresh mint, and a lemon garnish, this Hugo Spritz recipe delivers a bright, bubbly drink that is perfect for patio sipping, brunch, summer gatherings, or any moment that calls for something elegant and low-effort.

The Hugo Spritz is widely credited to bartender Roland Gruber, who created the drink in 2005 in Naturno, a town in northern Italy near the Italian-Austrian border. From there, the cocktail spread quickly into Austria and Germany before becoming popular around the world. It is easy to understand why: the combination of prosecco, elderflower, mint, and bubbles is clean, fragrant, and incredibly refreshing. If you enjoy Italian prosecco cocktails or light drinks with a floral finish, this one deserves a place in your rotation.

Ingredients

The key ingredient in a Hugo Spritz is St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur. It gives the drink its signature floral character, adding a soft sweetness and a delicate elderflower aroma that pairs beautifully with sparkling wine. A little goes a long way, so the cocktail stays balanced rather than overly sweet.

Sparkling water is another important part of the drink because it stretches the cocktail, adds lift, and keeps every sip crisp. Topo Chico works especially well because it is very bubbly and clean-tasting. Since it is often stocked in my fridge, it makes this version feel like a slightly Texas-inspired Hugo Spritz while still keeping the classic flavor profile intact.

For the sparkling wine, choose chilled prosecco or another sweet sparkling wine you enjoy drinking on its own. A slightly sweeter prosecco helps highlight the elderflower liqueur and makes the cocktail feel lively and rounded. Fresh mint and a lemon wheel finish the drink with fragrance, color, and a clean citrus note.

Method

The most important technique for making a flavorful Hugo Spritz is preparing the mint properly. Before adding mint to the glass, slap the leaves between your hands a few times. This quick step bruises the mint just enough to release its natural oils, making the drink more aromatic without tearing the leaves into small pieces.

To begin, remove the leaves from one sprig of mint and slap them gently between your palms until they smell fragrant. Drop the leaves into the bottom of a large wine glass or iced tea glass. Add the St. Germain and stir lightly so the mint can infuse the liqueur. Let this mixture rest for two to three minutes. This short steeping time adds a fresher mint flavor to the finished cocktail.

Next, fill the glass all the way to the top with ice. Pour in the chilled prosecco and sparkling water, then stir gently to combine without knocking out too many bubbles. Garnish the drink with a lemon wheel and a few fresh mint sprigs. For the best presentation, slap the garnish mint against your palm or the back of your hand before adding it to the glass. The aroma will rise as you sip, making the cocktail taste even fresher.

More Great Cocktail Recipes

If you enjoy a Hugo Spritz, you may also like other simple cocktails that use bold but balanced flavors. For cooler months, bourbon brown sugar old fashioned, hot buttered rum, and classic Irish coffee are cozy options with deeper, warmer notes.

For warm-weather cocktails, try drinks with fruit, citrus, and bubbles. A Dirty Shirley, peach sangria, or sparkling pear and elderflower lemonade can bring the same easygoing, refreshing feel to brunches, cookouts, and summer evenings.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review or comment and let me know how it turned out. This refreshing Hugo Spritz is best served cold, bubbly, and freshly garnished.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 1 Cocktail

Hugo Spritz

Prep Time:
5 minutes

Total Time:
5 minutes

This Hugo Spritz is a fresh, floral, and sparkling prosecco cocktail made with St. Germain elderflower liqueur, mint, Topo Chico, and a lemon garnish. It is quick to prepare, beautifully refreshing, and ideal for warm days.

Ingredients

• 1 sprig fresh mint
• ½ ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 1 ounce Topo Chico, chilled
• 4 ounces prosecco, chilled
• Lemon wheel, for garnish
• Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

1. Remove the leaves from 1 sprig of mint. Slap the leaves between your hands 2 to 3 times until they become fragrant and begin to release their oils.
2. Place the mint leaves in the bottom of an iced tea glass or large wine glass. Add the St. Germain and stir gently to combine. Let the mixture rest for 2 to 3 minutes so the mint can infuse the liqueur.
3. Fill the glass to the top with ice. Add the chilled prosecco and Topo Chico.
4. Stir gently to combine while keeping the bubbles lively.
5. Garnish with 2 to 3 fresh mint sprigs and a lemon wheel. Serve immediately.

Notes

To prepare mint for garnish, strip the lower leaves from the stalk and leave a small bouquet at the top. Slap the mint against your palm or the back of your hand before placing it in the glass; this releases the oils and makes the cocktail more aromatic. For especially fresh-looking mint, place the sprigs in an ice water bath before using.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 181Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g

This is an estimated caloric value, and actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.