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Delicate and floral, Hugo spritz is a soul-slaking, dreamy cocktail made with elderflower, prosecco, soda water and a spear of mint. If you’re not a lover of sweet or bitter spritzes, this is your hero.
If minty cocktails like this one are your thing, try a mojito spritz next. You’ll need light rum and plenty of limes.
The Hugo spritz is a surprisingly young cocktail. A mere 21-years old. Making dear Hugo the same age as my son! And in the same way I couldn’t choose a favourite child, I couldn’t choose a favourite spritz. OK, I could. And his name is Hugo.
Here are all my spritz babies (in no particular order!):
- Hugo is elegant, understated and refined.
- Aperol has a spicy bitterness that pulls no punches!
- Mojito is all effervescence and Cuban party spirit.
- Limoncello, classic citrussy charm.
- and Martini, vanilla sweet with a botanical alter ego.
I won’t ask about your favourite child, but how about your favourite spritz?
Hugo elderflower spritz
Although the Hugo spritz was developed in Alpine Italy, it’s elderflower and mint notes are quintessentially British. At this time of year, the wild white elderflower is everywhere and its scent hangs on the breeze; an aroma of lemon flowers and pear. Flavours which make this drink undeniably delicious.
All my summer spritz cocktail recipes call for prosecco as a base. The fizzy Italian sparkling wine makes up 3 parts and brings a vibrant edge to the floral elderflower liqueur (2 parts). While you could stop there, I add a soda top (1 part) to my spritzes to make them long lasting and hydrating.
Lime might be a common cocktail garnish, but in this elderflower spritz it adds a touch of zesty acidity that enlivens the drink, while a sprig of fresh mint cools and grounds.
For me, this Italian-born cocktail is a beatific English meadow in a glass.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Use elderflower cordial in place of liqueur for a less alcoholic hugo cocktail recipe.
- For a mocktail, as above and with non-alcoholic sparkling wine in place of prosecco.
- Elderflower liqueur is syrupy sweet, so I suggest using a dry prosecco.
- Use plenty of ice for super refreshment. So, you’ll need an appropriately generous glass!
- Swizzle gently to avoid muddling the mint and knocking out the sparkle.
Serving suggestions
While all summer spritz cocktails are a beauty to behold, I think the hugo spritz is the most attractive. It’s ethereal green hue and spear of mint give a Midsummer Night’s Dream quality to it that is best admired in a tall Collins glass filled with ice cubes. Crown with a lime wedge.
More cocktail recipes
Hugo Elderflower Spritz
Ingredients
- 50ml / 2oz elderflower liqueur
- 75ml / 3oz prosecco
- 25ml / 1oz soda water
- 8-10 mint leaves
- lime wedge, for garnish
- mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice and add mint leaves. Add the elderflower liqueur.
- Fill half of the space remaining in the glass with Prosecco, and the remaining space with soda water. Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint and lime wedge.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
