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This classic Hugo spritz cocktail recipe is light, floral, super refreshing, and absolutely perfect for warm spring days and hot summer nights. It gives a small tweak to the 3-2-1 spritz cocktail ratio for a perfectly balanced beverage without any complex mixology skills.

A hand holds a glass of a sparkling hugo spritz—lemon, mint, ice, and a straw. In the background sit another drink, lemons, a champagne bottle, and snacks on a blue tiled surface.

Having both Italian heritage and a penchant for making drinks at home, I have an affinity for spritz cocktails. The most popular spritz is undoubtedly the vibrant and bitter Aperol spritz, which seems to take over everyone’s social media feeds between the months of May and July. The Hugo spritz (often simply called “the Hugo cocktail”) is the next up-and-comer, only recently rising to star status in the spring and summer of 2023.

However, this bubbly beverage has been on the block since 2005, when it was first mixed up in Northeast Italy (aka the independent province of South Tyrol, aka the home of the picturesque Italian Dolomites mountain range). It’s light, bubbly, and perfect for enjoying any time of year, but particularly refreshing once the weather warms up. Pair this spritz with a fresh bowl of easy pesto pasta or cool and creamy burrata caprese salad and you’re ready to live your best life, Italian style! 🇮🇹

why this hugo spritz recipe works:

🌼 fresh & floral. Boasting a whole ounce of elderflower liqueur, this recipe has a stronger floral flavor than others out there which only use 1/2 ounce.

🤌 layered to perfection. Classic 3-2-1 spritz ratios work, so why mess with a good thing?! This one swaps the liqueur and soda water ratio for a lighter cocktail that still keeps the focus on the elderflower without being overly sweet.

🍋 lemon, not lime. For some reason, everyone seems to think this spritz should be garnished with a lime, but in actuality, the OG version of this cocktail was made with lemon balm syrup. This recipe gives a nod to the history by garnishing with lemon wheels!

🤔 who is Hugo?!

(aka the backstory aka everyone’s favorite part of food blogs!)

This drink is rumored to have been first mixed by Roland Gruber at Bar Sanzeno as an alternative to other bitter spritz cocktails. It uses elderflower liqueur in place of other aperitifs like Aperol or Campari for a lighter tasting drink. The popularly used Saint Germain liqueur didn’t exist before 2007, so it’s likely that local Italian elderflower liqueurs were the go-to for floral flavor.

In Northern Italy, they make an elderflower liqueur called Fiorente (which is why you might sometimes see this drink called a Fiorente Spritz). As for the name, Hugo, not much is known other than it was alllllmost called the Otto Spritz. I know, anticlimactic. Apparently Otto didn’t stick, and Hugo did, so here we are! 🤷🏻‍♀️

🛒 Hugo spritz ingredients

Flat lay of Hugo Spritz ingredients: sliced lemons on a board, elderflower liqueur, soda water, fresh mint, and a bottle of prosecco on a blue cloth, with ice cubes scattered across a light surface.
  • elderflower liqueur – fresh elder flowers are sort of hard to come by unless you’re in your gardening era, but luckily St. Germain is an elderflower liqueur that’s pretty easy to find at your local liquor store. Of course you can also be like me, have a summer of hyper-fixation, and make your own homemade elderflower liqueur! But if you’re normal, St. Germain is a great choice.
  • soda water – all bubbly water is not created equal, so make sure you grab plain soda water or seltzer water, not sparkling mineral water, which will change the flavor profile of this drink. Club soda is an adequate substitution, but I prefer plain sparkling water to keep the flavor profile on the elderflower.
  • prosecco – choose a high quality prosecco for your spritzes, it’s the Italian way! I love using La Marca or Ruffino prosecco for my spritzes. Both are priced nicely and are great quality “DOC grade” for enjoying in any spritz. Always look for the little label across the cork that says “DOC” or “DOCG,” it means that the prosecco is guaranteed to be from the specific region where prosecco is made in Italy.
  • lemon – you’ll need fresh lemon to garnish each drink. Wanna go the extra mile? Make some special citrus ice cubes for the glasses and enjoy the compliments as they roll in.
  • ice – we take ice seriously here, and there’s good reason, too! Ice makes up over 1/2 of the volume of most cocktails and drinks, so it’s important to use the best quality ice you can. This is the number one way to improve the flavor of your drinks!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 how to make the best Hugo spritz:

A person slices lemons on a small wooden cutting board, preparing ingredients for a refreshing hugo spritz. Nearby are a wine glass, a can of La Croix, bottles, fresh mint, and a blue-tiled background.

1: Thinly slice lemon wheels for your garnishes, removing any seeds from the slices.

A hand is placing a large ice cube into a clear wine glass that already contains ice, perfect for preparing a refreshing Hugo Spritz, with lemon slices, sparkling water, and bottles in the background on a light blue countertop.

2: Fill your glasses with ice to quickly give them a chill.

A hand pours elderflower liqueur from a metal jigger into a wine glass filled with ice for a refreshing elderflower spritz. Sliced lemons, LaCroix, a bottle, and fresh mint rest on the blue-tiled countertop.

3: Pour in chilled elderflower liqueur.

A hand pours soda water from a small metal cup into a wine glass with ice, crafting a refreshing Hugo spritz, surrounded by a bottle, LaCroix can, lemon slices, and fresh mint against a blue tiled background.

4: Layer on cold soda water.

A hand pours sparkling wine into a glass filled with ice for a refreshing Hugo Spritz. Lemon slices, a can of LaCroix, a bottle, and fresh herbs sit on the counter in front of a blue tiled background.

5: Top with chilled prosecco (or a little more if you like to eyeball it!).

A hand places a lemon slice into a sparkling hugo spritz cocktail in a wine glass, surrounded by sliced lemons, a La Croix can, a bottle, herbs, and snacks on a light blue surface with a blue tiled background.

6: Garnish with a lemon wheel.

A person gently slaps fresh mint leaves to express the essential oils above a Hugo spritz cocktail glass garnished with a lemon slice, with bottles, a bowl of nuts, and extra mint in the background against a blue tiled wall.

7: Gently slap a bouquet of mint in your hand to release the aroma of the oils in the herbs.

A hand garnishes a tall glass of iced Hugo spritz cocktail with fresh mint leaves. The glass sits on a wooden coaster, surrounded by sliced lemons, a LaCroix can, a bottle, and a jar of mint against a blue tiled background.

8: Garnish with the mint bouquet and serve immediately.

Hint: If your elderflower liqueur is not chilled, be sure to chill it first! Having all your ingredients at the right temperature helps your drink to incorporate better and taste better.

💡how to make the perfect spritz

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

  • chill it out – make sure all ingredients are cold before mixing! This helps the ingredients to incorporate well while also keeping the ice from melting too fast. To quickly chill your liqueur, you can shake it in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • layer correctly – make sure to layer it in order, from liqueur, to soda water, then topping with prosecco. Not only does this set you up for the perfect Hugo spritz ratio, but it also helps the ingredients to mix as you pour. Of course, you can also stir your cocktails before serving to make sure that everything is combined well.
  • not enough floral flavor – prefer a stronger floral flavor? You can use up to 1.5 ounces of elderflower liqueur if you prefer a stronger flavor!

🍽️ how to serve a Hugo spritz + pairing ideas

choose your glass

  • wine glass – without ice, the total volume of this cocktail is 5 ounces, so a nicely sized wine glass is the best choice for glassware. Keep in mind if you use one of those trendy goblet or balloon glasses, you might want to increase the serving size of the drink so it doesn’t look dinky in the glass. 🥲

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give a good garnish

  • lemon wheel & mint -the traditional garnish for a Hugo spritz is a small bouquet of mint and a lemon wheel. You can also use a wedge of lemon if you prefer, though a thinly sliced wheel gives a great wow factor!
  • lemon sugar – brush a portion of your glass with simple syrup or lemon juice, then gently press it into a small dish of lemon sugar for a fun and fancy garnished rim.
  • dehydrated lemon – you can also garnish with a dehydrated lemon or even a candied lemon wheel if you don’t have fresh lemon on hand!

pair it perfectly

  • spritz station – you can also make a DIY spritz station for any party by offering your guests a selection liqueurs along with a bottle of prosecco and some soda water. Set up your station to include a choice of bitter Aperol, a traditional Italian lemon liqueur, and elderflower liqueur, too!
  • brunch party – spritzes are perfect for daytime brunch parties because they are lower in ABV than traditional cocktails. This means they’re really great for having fun, but staying level-headed, too. 😉
  • Italian-inspired lunch – serve this alongside classic Italian appetizers like herby mozzarella, mini appetizer pizzas, or ricotta and pesto pasta for the perfect alfresco afternoon!
A hand stirs a tall glass of light-colored Hugo Spritz with a metal bar spoon. The drink sits on a coaster, surrounded by sliced lemons, a can of LaCroix, bottles, and nuts, set against a blue tiled background.

♻️ customize your Hugo spritz

  • champagne or cava – I won’t tell on you if you use champagne or cava in place of prosecco. Either would work fine if you can’t find a DOC/DOCG bottle of bubbles from Italy.
  • rosé – a nice sparkling brut rosé would also complement the floral flavor of this cocktail!
  • add more herbs – you can add basil, rosemary, or thyme to the herb bouquet to give your spritz an herbaceous twist! For stronger flavor, you can gently muddle the herbs with the elderflower liqueur before layering in the rest of the ingredients.

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

  • wine glass – resist the urge to use a giant goblet and use a standard wine glass instead. That’ll help you make sure the proportions are correct in this cocktail, without looking small in the glass.
  • measuring beaker or jigger – you’ll need measuring tools to get the proportions right when pouring.
  • straw – I love serving my spritzes with coordinated straws for extra flair!

🫙 how to store a spritz

Spritzes are best consumed shortly after making them because of the carbonation they contain. If you must store any leftovers, be sure to use a bottle with a stopper. I love using these bottles from Bormioli Rocco because they safely store carbonated beverages (affiliate link). Don’t plan to store it longer than 24 hours, or you risk losing the bubbles.

💬 q+a

You can totally make an alcohol-free spritz by leaving out the elderflower liqueur and using elderflower simple syrup to make a soda instead. Swap the prosecco for more soda water, or use a non-alcoholic prosecco alternative! My favorite is Noughty sparkling chardonnay!

I prefer to use lemon because it looks better and adds a nice aroma and flavor to the spritz, and adds a pop of color too, but if you only have limes, you can use those.

Limes and lemons are interchangeable, but on the scale of acidic ingredients, conventional grocery store limes (aka Persian limes) can vary widely in sourness and bitterness.

For the best quality spritz, stick to prosecco that is guaranteed to come from the correct region of Italy that regulates production of prosecco. Look for labels that say ‘DOC” or “DOCG” for the highest quality bubbles.

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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A refreshing Hugo Spritz cocktail with ice, mint, and a lemon slice served in a wine glass with a straw, surrounded by sliced lemons, a bowl of nuts, and a can, on a light blue surface.

The Best Hugo Spritz Cocktail (Elderflower Spritz Cocktail)

Lindsey Neumayer
This refreshing Hugo spritz recipe combines elderflower liqueur, prosecco, and soda water for an elegant Italian cocktail that's perfect for summer gatherings or sophisticated brunches. Garnished with fresh mint and lemon, this low-ABV cocktail is perfect for enjoying in spring and summer!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Beverages, Cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine Italian
Servings 1
Calories 145 kcal

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Equipment

  • 1 wine glass
  • 1 measuring beaker or jigger, for accurate pours
  • 1 straw
  • 1 cutting board and pairing knife for cutting lemons
  • 1 cocktail spoon optional, for stirring

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ounce elderflower liqueur chilled, such as Saint Germain
  • 2 ounces plain seltzer water chilled
  • 3 ounces prosecco chilled, DOC or DOCG quality
  • lemon wheel for garnish
  • fresh mint for garnish
  • ice cubes large cubes preferred

Instructions
 

  • Prep lemon garnish. Slice a thin wheel of lemon for garnish, removing any seeds.
    lemon wheel
  • Chill glass. Fill a wine glass with ice to chill.
    ice cubes
  • Add liqueur. Pour 1 ounce of chilled elderflower liqueur into the glass.
    1 ounce elderflower liqueur
  • Layer soda water. Add 2 ounces of cold soda water.
    2 ounces plain seltzer water
  • Top with prosecco. Top with 3 ounces of chilled prosecco.
    3 ounces prosecco
  • Garnish with lemon. Gently place the lemon wheel in the glass.
  • Express mint. Lightly slap the mint sprig between your palms to release the oils.
    fresh mint
  • Garnish and serve. Garnish with the mint sprig and serve immediately.

Notes

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

      • chill it out – make sure all ingredients are cold before mixing! This helps the ingredients to incorporate well while also keeping the ice from melting too fast. To quickly chill your liqueur, you can shake it in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
      • layer correctly – make sure to layer it in order, from liqueur, to soda water, then topping with prosecco. This helps the ingredients to mix as you pour. Of course, you can also stir your cocktails before serving to make sure that everything is combined well.
      • not enough floral flavor – you can use up to 1.5 ounces of elderflower liqueur if you prefer a stronger flavor!

    ♻️ customize your Hugo spritz

    • champagne or cava – I won’t tell on you if you use champagne or cava in place of prosecco. Either would work fine if you can’t find a DOC/DOCG bottle of bubbles from Italy.
    • rosé – a nice sparkling brut rosé would also complement the floral flavor of this cocktail!
    • add more herbs – you can add basil, rosemary, or thyme to the herb bouquet to give your spritz an herbaceous twist! For stronger flavor, you can gently muddle the herbs with the elderflower liqueur before layering in the rest of the ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 0.1gSodium: 18mgPotassium: 76mgSugar: 12gCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.4mg
    Did you make this?! 👀Let everyone know how it was! 💕
    Keyword: al fresco, elderflower, floral, spring, spritz, summer, The Feels, The Pop, The Wow, Mom!

    Lindsey Neumayer is a culinary content creator at A Recipe For Fun based in Central Florida. She is a classically trained baking and pastry student from Valencia College who also has over 14 years of experience in the fields of education, training, & development. She uses her expertise in education and the culinary arts to share easy-to-follow recipes that you can recreate with confidence at home!

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    2 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      I just looove an aperol spritz, but holy moly do I like this drink so much! Drink of the the summer for sure.

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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