The Hugo Spritz is a refreshing, light cocktail—very much to be an impressive alternative to the classic Aperol Spritz. It’s known for its floral and a little sweet flavors. Here’s how to make one:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Prosecco, or any other sparkling wine
- 1 oz Elderflower liqueur, such as St-Germain
- 1 oz Soda water, or sparkling water
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lime wedge, optional
- Ice
Instructions:
Prepare the Glass:
Fill a large wine glass or highball glass with ice.
Add Elderflower Liqueur:
Pour over ice the elderflower liqueur.
Add Prosecco:
Slowly pour Prosecco into the glass. This helps a lot to not kill the bubbles.
Top with Soda Water:
Finally, add a dash of soda water to the top to give it a bit of fizz and balance the sweetness.
Garnish:
Lightly slap a few mint leaves between your hands to release their aroma, then add them to the glass.
Option for a lime wedge with that extra kick.
Gently Stir:
Gently stir the drink so that everything gets mixed up well without exhausting too much carbonation.
Enjoy!
The Hugo Spritz is perfect on a summer day or as a refreshing aperitif. What’s more, it’s an elegant and delicious treat due to its floral elderflower liqueur and crisp Prosecco.
The Hugo Spritz: A Refreshing Variation of a Classic Cocktail
Of all the cocktails, ever-changing, the Hugo Spritz stands out as a colorful and refreshing twist on the classic spritz family. Its place of origin is Italy, and this cocktail speaks to the nation’s love of light, effervescent drinks epitomizing summer in a glass. If you would like to step up your cocktail game, then you ought to try the Hugo Spritz.
Origins and Popularity
The Hugo Spritz comes from South Tyrol in northern Italy. It was introduced to public consumers around 2000 by mixer Roland Gruber. While its better-known cousin, Aperol Spritz, is bubbly orange with a flavor profile more bitter than sweet, the Hugo Spritz boasts a delicate sweetness and floral note balance. Due to its refreshing taste and versatile character, this cocktail has become very popular all over Italy and Europe.
Ingredients and Flavor Profile
The Hugo Spritz is identified solely with the elderflower liqueur, which provides floral sweetness and sets this spritz apart from others. These are some of the key ingredients in the cocktail:
Prosecco: This Italian white wine provides much-needed bubbles and a touch of dryness.
Elderflower Liqueur: This is basically a sweet, floral liqueur, usually St-Germain. This ingredient is quite important for that unique taste in the cocktail.
Soda Water: Adds a refreshing fizz and lightens it up. Mint Leaves: For a touch of herbal freshness. Lime: Optional, but adds a touch of citrusy brightness.
It’s an intense marriage of floral elderflower notes with the crispness of Prosecco, refreshing bubbles from the soda water, and enhanced with mint leaves, which add freshness to the air and leave a cooling effect. A lime wedge can also be squeezed into the drink for that zesty twist, should one want it.
How to Make a Hugo Spritz
Making a Hugo Spritz at home is, again, pretty easy and involves very little investment in terms of equipment. Here’s a basic recipe for your try:
Prepare Your Glass: Fill a large wine glass or a highball glass with ice.
Add Elderflower Liqueur: Pour about 1 ounce of elderflower liqueur over the ice.
Add Prosecco: Gently pour 2 ounces of Prosecco into the glass.
Top with Soda Water: Add soda water to top the glass and cut the sweetness.
Garnish: Slap a few fresh mint leaves between your hands to release their aroma and drop them into the glass. If you feel extra frilly, add a wedge of lime for a touch more zest.
Stir Gently: Lightly stir over the drink so that ingredients mix without losing the bubbles.
Enjoying the Hugo Spritz
The Hugo Spritz works equally well in so many situations. Light and effervescent, it is perfect for summer afternoons, garden parties, or any other elegant before-dinner drink. It works really well with light appetizers like fresh seafood, salads, or charcuterie. Being light and refreshing, the drinking time can be any season of the year; hence, it is worthy to be added to any cocktail repertoire.
Conclusion
The Hugo Spritz is a refreshing twist from all the traditional spritzes out there, infused with elderflower liqueur and Prosecco. From northern Italy to Europe and beyond, it’s fast becoming a delicious drink for those who want to enjoy something classy yet simple. Be it entertaining friends or just unwinding at the end of a tiring day, the Hugo Spritz is sure to add some class and a little flavor.
References
BarTender Magazine. “The Hugo Spritz: A Fresh Twist on a Classic Cocktail.” BarTender Magazine, 2022.
Serious Eats. “Hugo Spritz: The Italian Cocktail You Should Be Drinking.” Serious Eats, 2023.
Liquor.com. “How to Make a Hugo Spritz.” Liquor.com, 2024.
These sources will make for further reading about the origins, variations, and recipes of the Hugo Spritz.