Hugo Spritz Recipe: How to Make Summer’s Viral Elderflower Cocktail

The Hugo Spritz has become America’s breakout cocktail of summer 2026.

Google reports that searches for “how to make a Hugo Spritz at home” surged by 2,200% in one month. Its popularity comes down to a simple combination: sparkling wine, floral elderflower, soda water, mint and lime.

It is lighter in color and less bitter than an Aperol Spritz. It also takes approximately five minutes to assemble—no cocktail shaker required.

Below is a balanced single-glass recipe, a party-size version and an alcohol-free alternative.

What Is a Hugo Spritz?

A Hugo Spritz is a sparkling elderflower cocktail associated with South Tyrol in northern Italy.

The modern version typically contains:

• Dry prosecco or another sparkling wine
• Elderflower liqueur or elderflower cordial
• Soda water
• Fresh mint
• Lime
• Plenty of ice

The drink was created in 2005 by bartender Roland Gruber as an alternative to the traditional bittersweet spritz. The earliest version reportedly used lemon-balm syrup. Elderflower later became the defining flavor because it was more widely available.

The Hugo tastes floral, citrusy, lightly sweet and sparkling. Unlike an Aperol Spritz, it has no strong orange bitterness.

Why the Hugo Spritz Is Trending in 2026

The drink fits several current preferences at once.

• It is easy to prepare at home.
• Its pale color and green garnish photograph well.
• Elderflower offers a distinctive flavor without intense bitterness.
• Soda water gives the drink a lighter finish.
• The recipe is easy to modify for different sweetness levels.

Google’s official U.S. summer search report found that “how to make a Hugo Spritz at home” increased by 2,200%. Spritz-related searches also rise seasonally as people look for cold drinks suitable for outdoor gatherings.

See the complete trend data in Google’s Summergeist 2026 report.

Classic Hugo Spritz Recipe

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Equipment: Large wine glass and bar spoon

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces elderflower liqueur
• 2 ounces chilled dry prosecco
• 2 ounces chilled sparkling water or club soda
• 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
• 1 lime wedge or thin lime wheel
• Ice cubes
• 1 mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a large wine glass generously with fresh ice.
2. Lightly press or clap the mint leaves between your hands to release their aroma.
3. Add the mint to the glass without crushing it into small pieces.
4. Pour the chilled prosecco and sparkling water over the ice.
5. Add the elderflower liqueur.
6. Stir gently two or three times to combine the ingredients without losing excessive carbonation.
7. Garnish with a lime wedge and fresh mint sprig.
8. Serve immediately.

This version follows the proportions published in the St-Germain Hugo Spritz recipe.

The Best Order for Building a Hugo Spritz

The order matters more than it appears.

Step	Why it matters
Add plenty of ice	Rapidly chills the glass and reduces uncontrolled dilution
Add aromatic mint	Allows the fragrance to spread without pulverizing the leaves
Pour sparkling ingredients	Distributes bubbles through the drink
Add elderflower	The denser liqueur moves through the sparkling mixture
Stir gently	Combines the drink while preserving carbonation
Garnish last	Keeps the mint and lime fresh and visible

Elderflower Liqueur vs. Elderflower Cordial

These ingredients sound interchangeable, but they produce different drinks.

Ingredient	Contains alcohol?	Flavor	Best use
Elderflower liqueur	Yes	Floral, sweet and complex	Modern cocktail-style Hugo Spritz
Elderflower cordial	Usually no	Sweeter and more concentrated	Lighter Hugo or alcohol-free version
Elderflower syrup	Usually no	Sweet and concentrated	Traditional-style variation

If using cordial or syrup instead of liqueur, start with a smaller amount. Add more only after tasting.

Cordial sweetness varies substantially between brands. A direct one-to-one substitution can make the cocktail overly sweet.

What Prosecco Is Best for a Hugo Spritz?

Use a cold, dry prosecco that you would be comfortable drinking on its own.

Look for labels such as:

• Brut
• Extra Brut
• Brut Nature

Despite its name, prosecco labeled “Extra Dry” is generally sweeter than Brut. It can still work, but you may want to reduce the elderflower liqueur or increase the soda water.

An expensive vintage sparkling wine is unnecessary. The mint, lime, elderflower and soda modify its flavor, so a crisp everyday bottle is usually the practical choice.

How to Prepare the Mint Properly

Mint gives the Hugo Spritz much of its fresh aroma. It can also become bitter or untidy when handled aggressively.

Do not grind the leaves into the glass.

Instead:

1. Rinse the mint gently.
2. Pat it completely dry.
3. Place the leaves in one palm.
4. Clap once with the other hand.
5. Add the aromatic leaves to the glass.

This releases the surface oils without creating dark fragments that enter the straw or collect between the ice cubes.

How to Make a Less-Sweet Hugo Spritz

Sweetness is the most common complaint about a poorly balanced Hugo.

For a drier drink:

• Use Brut or Extra Brut prosecco.
• Reduce elderflower liqueur to ¾ or 1 ounce.
• Increase soda water by 1 ounce.
• Add a small squeeze of fresh lime.
• Avoid sweetened flavored sparkling water.

Taste before adding extra citrus. Too much lime can dominate the subtle elderflower aroma.

Hugo Spritz Pitcher Recipe for a Party

A pitcher is convenient, but the sparkling ingredients lose carbonation when prepared too far in advance.

Servings: Approximately 8

Ingredients

• 12 ounces elderflower liqueur
• 16 ounces chilled dry prosecco
• 16 ounces chilled sparkling water
• 1 loosely packed cup of fresh mint leaves
• 2 limes, thinly sliced
• Ice for serving

Instructions

1. Chill every liquid ingredient and the empty pitcher.
2. Prepare individual glasses with ice.
3. Add elderflower liqueur, prosecco and sparkling water to the pitcher immediately before serving.
4. Add mint and lime slices.
5. Stir once, gently.
6. Pour into the prepared glasses and serve immediately.

For better bubbles, keep the ice in individual glasses rather than filling the pitcher with it. This also prevents the final servings from becoming excessively diluted.

Make-Ahead Party Strategy

Do not fully mix the cocktail hours before guests arrive. Prepare its components instead.

Task	When to do it
Chill prosecco, soda and liqueur	Several hours ahead
Wash and dry mint	Up to several hours ahead
Slice lime	Shortly before serving
Fill an ice bucket	Immediately before guests arrive
Combine sparkling ingredients	At serving time

Nonalcoholic Hugo Spritz Recipe

This version keeps the floral, mint and citrus character without prosecco or elderflower liqueur.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces nonalcoholic sparkling wine
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• ½ to 1 ounce nonalcoholic elderflower cordial
• 6 fresh mint leaves
• 1 lime wedge
• Ice

Instructions

1. Fill a large wine glass with ice.
2. Gently release the mint’s aroma and add it to the glass.
3. Pour in the nonalcoholic sparkling wine and sparkling water.
4. Add ½ ounce of elderflower cordial.
5. Stir gently and taste.
6. Add more cordial only if needed.
7. Garnish with lime and mint.

Check product labels carefully if complete alcohol avoidance is necessary. Some drinks marketed as “nonalcoholic” can contain a small residual amount.

Five Easy Hugo Spritz Variations

1. Cucumber Hugo

Add two thin cucumber ribbons. Cucumber reinforces the drink’s fresh character without increasing sweetness.

2. Rosé Hugo

Replace regular prosecco with a dry sparkling rosé. The result is fruitier and pale pink.

3. Berry Hugo

Add two raspberries or sliced strawberries. Avoid crushing too much fruit, which can make the drink cloudy and difficult to sip.

4. Citrus Hugo

Replace lime with a thin lemon or grapefruit wheel. Grapefruit creates a slightly more bitter finish.

5. Lower-Alcohol Hugo

Use less prosecco and elderflower liqueur while increasing sparkling water. Maintain the mint and lime garnish so the drink remains aromatic.

Hugo Spritz vs. Aperol Spritz

Feature	Hugo Spritz	Aperol Spritz
Main flavor	Elderflower	Bitter orange and herbs
Typical color	Pale gold or nearly clear	Bright orange
Garnish	Mint and lime	Orange slice
Taste	Floral, fresh and lightly sweet	Bittersweet and citrus-forward
Base combination	Prosecco, elderflower and soda	Prosecco, Aperol and soda

The better choice depends on taste. People who enjoy bitter aperitifs may prefer Aperol, while those who like floral cocktails may favor the Hugo.

Common Hugo Spritz Mistakes

Using too little ice

A few small cubes melt rapidly. Filling the glass with solid ice keeps the drink cold and controls dilution more effectively.

Using warm ingredients

Warm prosecco melts ice quickly and loses carbonation. Chill all liquids before opening them.

Over-muddling the mint

Aggressive muddling can make mint bitter and fill the drink with small pieces.

Choosing a very sweet sparkling wine

Elderflower already contributes sweetness. A sweet wine can make the final drink taste syrupy.

Stirring too much

Repeated stirring releases carbonation. Two or three gentle turns are sufficient.

Preparing it too early

A Hugo Spritz should be served immediately. A pre-mixed pitcher will gradually become flat.

What Food Goes With a Hugo Spritz?

The drink’s floral sweetness works best with salty, fresh or lightly acidic foods.

• Olives and roasted nuts
• Soft and semi-firm cheeses
• Prosciutto or other cured meats
• Tomato bruschetta
• Grilled vegetables
• Smoked salmon crostini
• Light flatbreads
• Cucumber and feta salad
• Fresh fruit

Very sweet desserts can make the elderflower liqueur seem heavier. If serving dessert, choose citrus, berries or a lightly sweetened pastry.

Watch: How to Make a Hugo Spritz

The Bottom Line

The Hugo Spritz has earned its popularity because it is simple, adaptable and visually distinctive.

For the best version, use cold dry prosecco, fresh mint, plenty of ice and enough soda water to keep the elderflower from becoming overpowering.

Build the drink immediately before serving. Stir gently and adjust the sweetness to your taste rather than treating one ratio as an absolute rule.

For parties, chill everything in advance but wait until serving time to open the prosecco and mix the pitcher.

Explore more recipes and summer ideas through Zobuz’s summer-drink coverage, or browse the latest stories on Zobuz.

Responsible drinking notice: This recipe is intended for adults of legal drinking age. Alcohol impairs judgment and coordination. Do not drink and drive, and avoid alcohol during pregnancy or when it conflicts with medication or medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Hugo Spritz?

A modern Hugo Spritz typically contains prosecco, elderflower liqueur, sparkling water, fresh mint, lime and ice.

What does a Hugo Spritz taste like?

It tastes floral, sparkling, citrusy and lightly sweet. It is less bitter than an Aperol Spritz.

Can I make a Hugo Spritz without St-Germain?

Yes. You can use another elderflower liqueur or a smaller amount of elderflower cordial. Cordial is usually sweeter, so begin with less and adjust after tasting.

What prosecco is best for a Hugo Spritz?

A chilled dry prosecco labeled Brut or Extra Brut provides a crisp counterpoint to sweet elderflower.

Can I make a Hugo Spritz in advance?

Prepare the garnishes and chill the ingredients in advance, but combine the sparkling ingredients immediately before serving to preserve carbonation.

Can a Hugo Spritz be made without alcohol?

Yes. Replace prosecco with nonalcoholic sparkling wine and use nonalcoholic elderflower cordial instead of elderflower liqueur.