Prep time: 5 minutes | Servings: 1 cocktail | Style: Light elderflower Prosecco spritz
Hugo Spritz Recipe
This Hugo Spritz recipe is a bright, floral, low-ABV cocktail made with dry Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, chilled soda water, fresh mint, lime, and ice. It is light, bubbly, and refreshing, which makes it one of the easiest spritz cocktails to serve for warm-weather parties.
The Hugo Spritz is often described as a lighter, more floral cousin to the Aperol Spritz. Instead of bitter orange, it leans into elderflower, mint, and lime for a clean garden-party flavor that works especially well for bridal showers, brunches, backyard dinners, Hamptons events, and summer cocktail hours.
How to Make a Hugo Spritz
Watch this Hugo Spritz come together with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, soda water, fresh mint, lime, and ice. It is light, floral, bubbly, and one of the easiest spritz cocktails to build for a warm-weather party.
Bartender tip: clap the mint instead of muddling it. You want the aroma without bruising the leaves or turning the drink bitter.
Hugo Spritz video by Bartend Long Island
What Is a Hugo Spritz?
A Hugo Spritz is a light elderflower Prosecco cocktail made with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, soda water, fresh mint, lime, and ice. It is floral, bubbly, refreshing, and usually served in a large wine glass.
The Hugo Spritz is especially popular for warm-weather entertaining because it is easy to build directly in the glass and does not require shaking. It works well when guests want something lighter than a full-strength cocktail but more flavorful than plain sparkling wine.
Light, Floral, and Built for Summer
The Hugo Spritz gets its flavor from elderflower, mint, lime, and dry Prosecco. The drink should taste crisp and garden-fresh, not syrupy. The key is using dry sparkling wine, measuring the elderflower liqueur, and keeping everything cold.
For events, this is one of those drinks that looks polished on the bar but is still quick to serve. It is a strong fit for brunches, showers, cocktail hours, backyard parties, and beach-house weekends.
🌿 Hugo Spritz Ingredients
A classic Hugo Spritz uses dry Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, soda water, mint, lime, and ice. The flavor should be floral, crisp, lightly sweet, and refreshing.
- 3 oz dry Prosecco, or another dry sparkling wine
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur, such as St-Germain
- 2 oz chilled soda water
- 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
- 1 to 2 lime wheels, or 0.25 oz fresh lime juice
- Ice
- Mint sprig and lime wheel, for garnish
Best Prosecco: use a dry or Brut-style Prosecco. Elderflower liqueur is already sweet, so dry sparkling wine keeps the drink balanced.
🥂 Best Hugo Spritz Ratios
The easiest Hugo Spritz ratio is 3 parts Prosecco, 1 part elderflower liqueur, and 2 parts soda water. From there, you can adjust sweetness, bubbles, and alcohol level.
Classic Hugo Spritz
3 : 1 : 2
Prosecco : elderflower : soda. Balanced, bubbly, and easy to serve.
Drier Hugo Spritz
3.5 : 0.75 : 2
Less sweet, more crisp, and better for guests who prefer a drier spritz.
Lighter ABV Hugo
2 : 0.75 : 3
More soda, less sparkling wine, and easier to sip over a long afternoon.
More Floral Hugo
3 : 1.25 : 2
A little more elderflower, best for guests who prefer sweeter floral drinks.
🍸 How to Make a Hugo Spritz
- Prep the mint: Lightly clap mint leaves between your palms to release aroma. Do not muddle hard.
- Build the glass: Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add mint leaves and lime wheels.
- Pour the spritz: Add elderflower liqueur, then Prosecco, then chilled soda water.
- Finish and garnish: Give one gentle stir. Garnish with a mint sprig and optional lime wheel. Serve immediately.
🍾 Bartender Tips for the Best Hugo Spritz
Use dry Prosecco
A Brut-style Prosecco keeps the elderflower from making the drink too sweet.
Measure the elderflower
Elderflower liqueur is flavorful and sweet. Measuring keeps the spritz balanced.
Clap the mint
Clapping the mint releases aroma without bruising the leaves or making the drink bitter.
Build over ice
Build the drink directly in the glass over plenty of ice to keep it cold and bubbly.
🥃 Best Glass for a Hugo Spritz
A large wine glass works best for a Hugo Spritz because it gives the Prosecco, soda water, mint, lime, and ice enough room. The drink should feel light and aromatic, so avoid a glass that is too small or crowded.
A Collins glass also works if you want a taller, lighter highball-style Hugo with more soda water.
✨ Hugo Spritz Variations
Hugo Rosa
Use dry rosé Prosecco for a blush-colored Hugo Spritz with a slightly fruitier finish.
Cucumber Hugo Spritz
Add 2 to 3 thin cucumber slices for a fresh spa-style variation.
Non-Alcoholic Hugo Spritz
Use non-alcoholic sparkling wine, elderflower syrup, soda water, mint, and lime for a zero-proof Hugo Spritz.
Hugo Highball
Build the drink in a Collins glass and increase the soda water to 3 or 4 oz for a lighter, lower-ABV version.
Extra Citrus Hugo
Add a small squeeze of fresh lime juice if you want the drink brighter and less sweet.
🍾 How to Batch Hugo Spritzes for a Party
Hugo Spritzes can be batched for a party, but Prosecco and soda water should be added close to service so the drink stays bubbly.
Standard pour per drink: 3 oz Prosecco, 1 oz elderflower liqueur, and 2 oz soda water.
- 750 ml Prosecco is about 25.4 oz, which gives about 8 Hugo pours at 3 oz each
- 1 L soda water is about 33.8 oz, which gives about 16 pours at 2 oz each
Pitcher for 8 cocktails
- 24 oz dry Prosecco, about 1 bottle
- 8 oz elderflower liqueur
- 16 oz chilled soda water
- 1 large bunch fresh mint
- 8 to 12 lime wheels
- Ice for serving
Pitcher for 20 cocktails
- 60 oz dry Prosecco, about 2.5 bottles, round up to 3
- 20 oz elderflower liqueur
- 40 oz chilled soda water, about 1.2 L
- 2 to 3 bunches fresh mint
- 20 to 30 lime wheels
- Ice for serving
Party planning tip: plan about 2 to 3 spritzes per guest over a 2-hour cocktail window. For 20 guests having 2 spritzes each, budget about 3 bottles of Prosecco, 1 bottle of elderflower liqueur, and 1.5 L of soda water.
🎉 When to Serve a Hugo Spritz
A Hugo Spritz is best for occasions where you want something light, pretty, and refreshing on the menu. It works especially well for bridal showers, brunches, garden parties, summer weddings, cocktail hours, backyard dinners, Hamptons house parties, and waterfront events.
Because it is lower in alcohol than many shaken cocktails, it is a strong fit for daytime events and longer parties where guests want something easy to sip.
🍽️ What to Serve with a Hugo Spritz
Hugo Spritzes pair well with light party food such as tea sandwiches, citrus salads, shrimp cocktail, oysters, grilled chicken, flatbreads, fresh fruit, cheese boards, and passed appetizers.
The mint, lime, and elderflower make the drink feel especially fresh next to summer menus and outdoor cocktail-hour spreads.
❓ Hugo Spritz FAQs
What is in a Hugo Spritz?
A Hugo Spritz is made with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, soda water, fresh mint, lime, and ice.
What does a Hugo Spritz taste like?
A Hugo Spritz tastes light, floral, bubbly, and refreshing. It has elderflower sweetness, fresh mint aroma, lime brightness, and a crisp sparkling finish.
Is a Hugo Spritz sweet?
A Hugo Spritz is lightly sweet because of the elderflower liqueur. Use dry Prosecco and measure the elderflower to keep it balanced.
Can I make a lighter Hugo Spritz?
Yes. Use less Prosecco, reduce the elderflower slightly, and increase the soda water for a lighter, lower-ABV version.
What glass should I use for a Hugo Spritz?
A large wine glass works best. A Collins glass also works for a taller highball-style version.
Do I need fresh mint?
Yes. Fresh mint is important because the aroma is a major part of the drink. Old mint can taste muddy and flat.
Can I batch Hugo Spritzes for a party?
Yes. You can prep the mint, lime, and elderflower ahead of time, then add Prosecco and soda water close to service so the drinks stay bubbly.
Can Bartend Long Island serve Hugo Spritzes at private events?
Yes. Bartend Long Island can include Hugo Spritzes as part of a custom cocktail menu for private events across Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, the Hamptons, and NYC.
