Name: How to Make a Hugo Spritz
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 3 oz sparkling wine (Prosecco or another dry sparkling white wine); 2 oz elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain) OR substitute 1 to 1¼ oz elderflower syrup; 1 oz or more club soda or sparkling water; 1–3 sprigs fresh mint (you’ll use some in the glass and some for garnish); Ice; Lemon or lime round, for garnish (optional)

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Welcome to one of your new favorite summer cocktails! Light, floral, and refreshingly simple, this Hugo Spritz recipe combines sparkling wine, elderflower liqueur or syrup, and mint - a drink that captures the essence of summer.

A Hugo cocktail on a patio with pink napkin, spoon, and dish of mint.

If you know me in person, you know I love all things herbal, floral, and any excuse to celebrate the seasons. Some evenings, I’m in the mood for a good compound gin and tonic—but lately, the Hugo Spritz has become my go-to.

This is a drink that transports you to those hot, firefly-lit evenings spent chatting with friends on the patio - light, refreshing, and full of delicate summer flavors.

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What is a Hugo Spritz?
Ingredients You'll Need
Step-by-Step Instructions
Tips & Variations
More Drink Recipes

What is a Hugo Spritz?

A Hugo Spritz is a low ABV, floral Italian cocktail made with sparkling wine, soda water, mint, and traditionally, elderflower syrup. In recent years elderflower liqueur, like St. Germain, has often been used instead for a slightly boozier drink. Currently, It's also easier to find in the United States, although much more expensive.

It belongs to the spritz family of drinks: lower proof, wine-based cocktails that originated in Northern Italy. The Aperol Spritz may be the most popular, but the Hugo offers a softer, more herbal, and sessionable alternative.

Ingredients You'll Need

The Hugo is wonderfully simple to make. I used St. Germain elderflower liqueur in this version, but I’ll also include instructions for making it the traditional way - with elderflower syrup.

Ingredients for a Hugo Spritz cocktail including St. Germain, Cava, club soda, lemon, mint, shot glass, and a wine glass.

Fresh Mint: I used mint from my garden, but I especially enjoy this drink with wild field mint. Any mint will work.
St. Germain liqueur or elderflower syrup.
Prosecco or dry sparkling white wine: A dry wine is best to balance out the sweetness of elderflower liqueur or syrup.
Individual sized Prosecco bottles are a convenient option if you’re just making one or two drinks.
Club soda or sparkling water: I used Fever Tree club soda for extra crispness.

See recipe card for quantities.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This cocktail is built right in the glass using the classic spritz ratio of 3:2:1 — sparkling wine, elderflower liqueur, and club soda.

Slap or gently muddle 1-2 sprigs of mint and place it in a wine glass. Pour the elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain) over the mint and let it infuse for a moment.
Add ice to fill the glass about halfway or to your liking.
Pour in the sparkling wine.
Top with soda water or sparkling water, then stir—gently! You want to combine the flavors without losing those delicate bubbles.
Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint and, optionally, a lemon round or lime wheel.

Pro Tip

Mint Prep: I like to quickly slap the mint between two hands to release its aromatics, but you can also gently muddle it in the glass - or do both! I usually leave the stems on to help keep the leaves from floating too much, but that’s totally up to you.

Note: For the best fizz and to keep things from getting watered down, make sure your sparkling wine and soda are well chilled before mixing.

An outdoor wicker table with a close up of the mint garnish on a Hugo Spritz cocktail.

Tips & Variations

Change the ratios: Feel free to lower or raise the amount of liqueur or anything else!
Make it a mocktail: Skip the liqueur and proceseco. Instead use, ¾ oz elderflower syrup, ½ oz fresh lemon juice, and top off with club soda.
Experiment with Herbs: Some may argue that it is not longer a Hugo, but I think it would be fun to use a combination of mint with basil, lemon balm, or a little thyme.
Use a stemmed wine glass: Presentation is key with this one. I use my crystal red wine glasses, and any tall stemmed wine glass will do.

More Drink Recipes

How to Make a Hugo Spritz

Yield: 1 Cocktail

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

3 oz sparkling wine (Prosecco or another dry sparkling white wine)
2 oz elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain) OR substitute 1 to 1¼ oz elderflower syrup
1 oz or more club soda or sparkling water
1–3 sprigs fresh mint (you’ll use some in the glass and some for garnish)
Ice
Lemon or lime round, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Slap or gently muddle 1 sprig of mint in a wine glass.
Pour in the elderflower liqueur or syrup and let it infuse briefly.
Fill the glass with ice.
Add the sparkling wine.
Top with club soda—1 oz or more and give a gentle stir, paying attention to not break up too much bubbles.
Garnish with the remaining mint and a lemon or lime round, if desired.

Notes

Change the ratios: Feel free to lower or raise the amount of liqueur or anything else!
Make it a mocktail: Skip the liqueur and proceseco. Instead use, ¾ oz elderflower syrup, ½ oz fresh lemon juice, and top off with tonic water.
Experiment with Herbs: Some may argue that it is not longer a Hugo, but I think it would be fun to use a combination of mint with basil, lemon balm, or a little thyme.
Use a stemmed wine glass: Presentation is key with this one. I use my crystal red wine glasses, and any tall stemmed wine glass will do.
Mint Prep: I like to quickly slap the mint between two hands to release its aromatics, but you can also gently muddle it in the glass - or do both! I usually leave the stems on to help keep the leaves from floating too much, but that’s totally up to you.