Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe: A Refreshing Summer Cocktail You Can Make at Home

Looking for a light, crisp, and floral cocktail that’s ideal for warm weather? The Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is the answer. This sparkling drink has become a summer staple, thanks to its refreshing blend of elderflower liqueur, bubbly prosecco, mint, and lime. Whether you’re new to cocktail making or a seasoned home bartender, this recipe is simple, fast, and incredibly rewarding.

Originating in Italy’s northern Alps, the Hugo Spritz offers a refreshing, floral variation on the classic spritz. It’s lighter than an Aperol Spritz, gentler than Campari, and perfect for daytime sipping. The best part? You don’t need any fancy tools or bartending skills. All it takes is six ingredients and five minutes to craft this crowd-pleasing drink.

This guide will walk you through everything: from gathering the ingredients and understanding the traditional ratios to customizing your own Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe with fun garnishes or zero-alcohol versions.

What Is a Hugo Spritz and Why It’s a Perfect Summer Drink

Origin and history of Hugo Spritz

As a newer member of Italy’s spritz lineup, the Hugo Spritz has quickly gained popularity for its light, floral flavor. First mixed in 2005 by South Tyrolean bartender Roland Gruber, the Hugo Spritz was designed as a brighter, more delicate alternative to the Aperol Spritz. By using elderflower syrup instead of bitter liqueur, he introduced a softer flavor that quickly gained popularity across Europe.

Soon, the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe became synonymous with summer—served in oversized wine glasses, brimming with ice, mint leaves, and slices of lime. What started as a regional trend grew into a global sensation because it’s just that easy, accessible, and photogenic.

Why Hugo Spritz stands out among spritz cocktails

So what makes the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe different from every other spritz on the block?

It all comes down to flavor and drinkability. The Hugo is:

• Floral, not bitter
• Light, not heavy
• Effervescent, not syrupy

Compared to its cousins like Aperol or Campari Spritz, the Hugo offers a subtle sweetness with elderflower, enhanced by refreshing mint and citrus. It fits perfectly within the 3-2-1 spritz formula (3 parts prosecco, 2 parts liqueur, 1 part soda) but manages to stand out with its clean, fragrant finish.

Here’s a quick spritz breakdown:

The Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is also incredibly versatile. Want to go non-alcoholic? Sub elderflower liqueur for elderflower syrup and prosecco for club soda and limeade. Want to batch it for brunch? It scales perfectly without losing flavor.

Discover great ideas like our Natural Zepbound Drink Recipe to cool down with other flavorful sips.

Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe Ingredients & Tools

Essential ingredients for a classic Hugo Spritz

To craft a perfect Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe at home, you’ll need a few high-quality ingredients. Don’t worry—everything is easily available at most supermarkets or online. Here’s what you need for one serving:

A quick tip: Always chill your prosecco and sparkling water beforehand. This ensures that the drink stays refreshing without needing too much ice, which could dilute the flavor.

The beauty of this Hugo Spritz cocktail recipe lies in its adaptability. If you’re not a fan of prosecco, try cava or any dry sparkling wine. You can even adjust the elderflower liqueur to taste, especially if you like it less sweet or prefer a boozier version.

Recommended tools for home bartenders

You don’t need a fancy bar setup to create the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe, but a few tools can help elevate your cocktail game:

• Wine glass or spritz glass: Large enough to hold ice, garnishes, and liquid
• Jigger or shot glass: For accurate measuring
• Bar spoon or stir stick: To gently mix without losing carbonation
• Muddler or your hand: To bruise the mint and release aroma
• Citrus knife: For slicing lime or lemon

The good news? If you have a glass, a spoon, and your ingredients, you’re pretty much ready to roll. Hugo Spritz is intentionally low-maintenance, making it ideal for casual entertaining or solo sipping on your patio.

Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe: A Refreshing Summer Cocktail You Can Make at Home

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• Author: Zach
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 1 1x

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Description

Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe with elderflower, prosecco & mint. Ready in 5 minutes. Perfect summer cocktail with mocktail option.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

4 cubes ice

1 oz Elderflower liqueur, such as St. Germain or St. Elder

2 oz Seltzer or sparkling water

6 oz Prosecco

3 slices lime for garnish

6 leaves mint for garnish

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Instructions

• Fill a wine glass with ice.
• Place the mint leaves in the palm of one hand and gently whack them with the other hand to release the oils and flavor. Then, hand tear the leaves and place in the glass.
• Add 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, 2 ounces sparkling water or seltzer, and lime slices.
• Fill the glass to top with prosecco and give a gentle stir.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

• Adjust the amount of Elderflower liqueur based on the size of your glass and your taste.
• Add as much mint and lime slices as you desire!
• For a non-alcoholic version, replace the elderflower liqueur with elderflower simple syrup, and replace the prosecco with club soda and a splash of lemonade or limeade.

• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 0 min

Nutrition

• Calories: 225kcal
• Carbohydrates: 21g

Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe: Step-by-Step Guide

Detailed walkthrough of Hugo Spritz preparation

Once your ingredients and tools are ready, it’s time to build the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe the right way. This quick, refreshing drink only takes a few minutes, and once you taste it, you’ll be hooked.

Just follow these 7 simple steps to craft the perfect Hugo Spritz right at home:

1. Fill the glass with ice
   Begin by dropping 4 ice cubes into a large wine glass. A chilled glass will keep your Hugo Spritz cocktail crisp and vibrant.
2. Activate the mint
   Gently slap 6 mint leaves between your hands to release their oils. Then, hand-tear them into the glass. This helps you extract all that herby, aromatic freshness essential to a classic Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe.
3. Add the elderflower liqueur
   Measure and pour 1 oz of elderflower liqueur—St. Germain or St. Elder are the most popular picks. This element adds the signature floral sweetness that defines the drink.
4. Splash in sparkling water or seltzer
   Pour in 2 oz of sparkling water or seltzer for a refreshing fizz. It lightens the alcohol content and creates a smooth, well-balanced sip.
5. Drop in the lime slices
   Add 3 fresh lime slices. Their vibrant appearance and zesty citrus flavor bring both visual appeal and a refreshing depth.
6. Top with chilled prosecco
   Slowly pour 6 oz of prosecco into the glass. Pour gently to preserve the bubbles. This step gives the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe its classic sparkling finish.
7. Stir and enjoy
   Use a bar spoon to stir everything lightly just enough to combine. Be careful not to stir too much preserving the bubbles is essential for that effervescent finish.

That’s it. Your Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is ready to serve. Cheers to light, floral refreshment!

Customizing Your Hugo Spritz Recipe

Adjusting sweetness and strength

One of the best things about the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is its amazing versatility. Whether you’re a fan of dry, crisp drinks or sweeter, fruitier sips, this cocktail lets you control the balance. Here’s how to fine-tune it based on your personal taste:

• Too sweet? Cut the elderflower liqueur to ½ oz and add an extra splash of sparkling water.
• Not sweet enough? Add a dash more elderflower liqueur or a teaspoon of elderflower syrup.
• Want it stronger? Reduce the sparkling water to 1 oz or even skip it altogether.
• Prefer it lighter? For a lighter, low-alcohol option, simply add more sparkling water and reduce the prosecco slightly.

This kind of flexibility makes the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe one of the most versatile summer cocktails around.

You can even play with the type of prosecco you use. Brut prosecco makes it dry and crisp, while a dry-style prosecco brings a touch of fruity sweetness.

Playing with different garnishes and herbs

The standard Hugo Spritz garnishes—mint and lime—are already crowd-pleasers. But sometimes, it’s fun to experiment and give your cocktail a creative twist. Here are some fresh alternatives to explore:

Swapping lime for lemon can also change the profile dramatically—lemon brings more brightness and acidity, while lime gives a mild bitterness and tropical touch.

Want something even more fun? Add a dash of lavender syrup, a few muddled blueberries, or even a splash of coconut water. The core of the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe still holds, but now you’ve made it your own.

Non-Alcoholic Hugo Spritz (Mocktail Version)

Ingredient swaps for an alcohol-free Hugo Spritz

Whether you’re abstaining from alcohol or want something refreshing for a weekday afternoon, the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe can be made just as delicious—minus the booze. The non-alcoholic Hugo Spritz (also called a Hugo Mocktail) keeps the essence of the original but makes clever substitutions to preserve its floral, citrusy charm.

Here’s what you’ll need for one mocktail serving:

This version still follows the basic Hugo Spritz format—bubbles, florals, herbs, and citrus—but with zero alcohol. The elderflower syrup offers a sweet, floral depth, while the lemonade or limeade adds some tang to balance things out.

Just like the alcoholic version, you can build this drink right in the glass. Follow the same steps: add ice, slap and tear the mint, pour in elderflower syrup and lemonade, top with sparkling water, and garnish with lime.

Don’t miss our Pink Sea Salt Diet Recipe 2025 if you’re on the hunt for other delicious alcohol-free drinks that feel indulgent and refreshing.

How to retain flavor and fizz without the booze

Going alcohol-free doesn’t mean going flavor-free. To make your Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe mocktail shine, follow these tips:

• Use quality sparkling water or soda: Brands like San Pellegrino, Fever-Tree, or Topo Chico offer stronger carbonation and better taste than generic club sodas.
• Balance sweetness: Elderflower syrup is more sugary than liqueur, so pair it with tart lemonade or even a splash of grapefruit juice to keep it lively.
• Garnish generously: Use fresh herbs, berries, or citrus wheels for that “craft cocktail” look and feel.

If you want to dial up the complexity even further, add a few dashes of orange bitters (alcohol-free versions available) or infuse your sparkling water with botanicals overnight.

Non-alcoholic or not, the Hugo mocktail is still a star offering all the freshness of the original Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe, without the hangover.

Hugo Spritz vs Other Spritz Cocktails

Hugo vs Aperol vs Campari: What’s the difference?

The Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe has carved out its own fan base, but how does it compare to more traditional spritz cocktails like Aperol or Campari? While all three drinks fall under the “spritz” category, their flavors, colors, and alcohol profiles are noticeably different.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

What sets the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe apart is its smooth, floral elegance. While Aperol and Campari Spritzes can be punchy and bitter, Hugo leans into freshness with mint and elderflower. It’s the go-to for those who want a refreshing, approachable cocktail—even if they usually don’t drink.

Expert Tips for Serving and Presentation

Best glasses to use for a Hugo Spritz

Presentation plays a big role in how we experience cocktails, and the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is no exception. Choosing the right glass can enhance everything from aroma to appearance.

For the best experience, go with a:

• Large stemmed wine glass – This is the classic choice. The wide bowl gives the cocktail room to breathe and showcase garnishes.
• Spritz or goblet-style glass – These trendy, curved glasses hold plenty of ice and bubbles, making every sip feel luxurious.
• Highball glass (optional) – If you’re going minimalist, a tall highball glass will still do the job, though it’s less traditional.

No matter the style of glass you choose, the important thing is that it’s large enough to hold plenty of ice and fizz. The Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe contains ice, prosecco, elderflower liqueur, and garnishes, so aim for a 12–16 oz glass for proper volume.

Pairing Ideas: What Foods Go Well with Hugo Spritz

Perfect appetizers and finger foods

The Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is light, floral, and sparkling—making it the ideal companion to an array of fresh, vibrant appetizers. When choosing pairings, think Mediterranean: clean flavors, light textures, and plenty of herbs.

Enhance your spritz hour with these delicious finger food pairings.:

These small bites don’t overpower the drink and are easy to prepare, making them perfect for spritz-focused gatherings.

Storage, Leftovers, and Making Ahead

Can you batch prepare Hugo Spritz?

Absolutely. One of the best things about the Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is how effortless it is to scale up for entertaining. Whether you’re hosting a backyard brunch or a summer evening get-together, you can batch this cocktail in a pitcher without sacrificing taste or fizz—if you do it right.

Here’s how to batch for 6 servings:

Pro tip: Keep prosecco and sparkling water chilled until the moment of serving. Mix everything except the fizzy elements in the pitcher (mint, lime, liqueur), and top with prosecco + sparkling water just before pouring into glasses. That way, you keep the bubbles intact.

Conclusion

The Easy Hugo Spritz Recipe is more than just a summer cocktail—it’s a celebration in a glass. With its refreshing blend of elderflower liqueur, prosecco, mint, and lime, this drink offers a delicate balance of sweetness, fizz, and herbaceous charm. Whether you’re enjoying it at a garden party, brunch, or a quiet evening on the patio, the Hugo Spritz is versatile, elegant, and effortless.

We’ve shown you how to make the classic version, fun customizations, a non-alcoholic twist, and even how to batch it for guests. With just a few quality ingredients and minimal prep time, this drink proves that sophistication doesn’t have to be complicated.

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