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Hugo spritz (elderflower prosecco cocktail)

By: Rebecca Woollard

Published: 16 May 25
Updated: 16 May 25

Hugo spritz (elderflower prosecco cocktail)

Learn how to make a classic Italian hugo spritz cocktail, a refreshing mix of prosecco and elderflower cordial with a splash of soda water.

Easy summer prosecco cocktail: This simple recipe is part of the family of Italian spritzes, which combine sparkling wine, an aperitif and soda water in an easily-memorised 3-2-1 ratio. The hugo spritz uses elderflower – making it a great choice for those who prefer sweeter, floral flavours to the bitter aromatics of traditional aperitifs, such as Aperol and Campari. We suggest adding a shot of gin, too, to enhance the floral flavour, and squeezing over a wedge of lime to balance the sweetness and add a zesty touch.
Famous Italian aperitif: The hugo spritz is a relatively new invention, created by a bartender in mountainous northern Italy in the early 2000s, and its popularity quickly spread into Austria and beyond. The original recipe calls for elderflower syrup, which readily-available elderflower cordial is a great substitute for in the UK; you can also make your own elderflower cordial in the summer months.
Scale it up: The drink can easily be batch-made to serve a crowd. Fill a jug half-full with ice and multiply the ingredients to serve four or six. Top up with prosecco and soda water at the last minute for the freshest, fizziest results.

Love elderflower? Try this elderflower G&T next. Or browse all our favourite spritzes, including sweet strawberry and limoncello cocktails.

Easy
June 2016

Test kitchen approved

Serves 1
Hands-on time 5 min

Learn how to make a classic Italian hugo spritz cocktail, a refreshing mix of prosecco and elderflower cordial with a splash of soda water.

Easy summer prosecco cocktail: This simple recipe is part of the family of Italian spritzes, which combine sparkling wine, an aperitif and soda water in an easily-memorised 3-2-1 ratio. The hugo spritz uses elderflower – making it a great choice for those who prefer sweeter, floral flavours to the bitter aromatics of traditional aperitifs, such as Aperol and Campari. We suggest adding a shot of gin, too, to enhance the floral flavour, and squeezing over a wedge of lime to balance the sweetness and add a zesty touch.
Famous Italian aperitif: The hugo spritz is a relatively new invention, created by a bartender in mountainous northern Italy in the early 2000s, and its popularity quickly spread into Austria and beyond. The original recipe calls for elderflower syrup, which readily-available elderflower cordial is a great substitute for in the UK; you can also make your own elderflower cordial in the summer months.
Scale it up: The drink can easily be batch-made to serve a crowd. Fill a jug half-full with ice and multiply the ingredients to serve four or six. Top up with prosecco and soda water at the last minute for the freshest, fizziest results.

Love elderflower? Try this elderflower G&T next. Or browse all our favourite spritzes, including sweet strawberry and limoncello cocktails.

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Ingredients

1 measure of gin
A glass half-filled with ice
Good splash of elderflower cordial
Several mint leaves
Lime wedge
Prosecco
Soda water

Method

Pour a generous measure of gin into a glass half-filled with ice, then add a good splash of elderflower cordial.
Tuck in several mint leaves, squeeze over a lime wedge and drop it in, then top up with prosecco, adding a splash of soda water. Serve immediately.

Recipe from June 2016 Issue

FAQs

What is the difference between an Aperol and a hugo spritz?
Both drinks belong to the spritz family and contain prosecco and soda water, served over ice. Aperol is a bitter Italian aperitif with a striking orange colour, flavoured with botanicals including gentian and rhubarb. A hugo spritz is made with elderflower syrup or liqueur and is sweeter.

What are the ingredients for a hugo spritz?
A classic hugo spritz is made from elderflower syrup/cordial or liqueur, prosecco and soda water. It’s typically garnished with mint (and often lime). We recommend adding a measure of gin to add to the botanical flavour and introduce a subtle kick.

Can I make a hugo spritz with elderflower cordial?
Yes; the original recipe used an elderflower syrup and elderflower cordial is an easily accessible and affordable option. You could make your own cordial. Elderflower liqueur, such as the St Germain brand, is another popular choice; replace the measure of gin in this recipe with elderflower liqueur (and omit the elderflower cordial).

What does a hugo spritz taste like?
The dominant flavour in a hugo spritz is the elderflower syrup/liqueur, which is sweet and floral. Complemented by aromatic mint and finished with effervescent prosecco and soda water, it’s a light, bubbly and refreshing drink.

What to eat with a hugo spritz?
A hugo spritz is a classic Italian aperitif, to be enjoyed before a meal, so pairs well with salty snacks, nuts and olives.

What glass should a hugo spritz be served in?
A hugo spritz works well in a large wine glass, which provides plenty of room for ice and garnishes. A tumbler or tall glass, such as a collins or highball, also does the job.

What is the ratio for a hugo spritz?
The classic ratio for an Italian spritz is two parts aperitif/base (such as Aperol, or in this case elderflower), three parts prosecco and one part soda water.

delicious. tips

We suggest pepping up your hugo spritz with a generous measure of gin but you can simply leave yours with elderflower cordial and icy cold prosecco if you’d prefer, for a more traditional drink.

Ensure the prosecco and soda water are very chilled for the best results.

Roll the limes on your worktop before slicing into wedges. This breaks down the segments inside, making releasing the juice easier when you squeeze the wedge over the glass.

Before adding the mint leaves, lightly crush them in your hands to release their aroma. For professional-style drink making, drop the leaves into a bowl of ice water beforehand to pep them up for garnishing.

How to jazz up your hugo spritz
Cucumber: Strips or wedges of cucumber dial up the fresh, clean character of the drink.
Summer berries: Add a sweet note with seasonal raspberries or sliced strawberries; lightly crush them to release their juices or use as a garnish.
Flavoured gin: Try using rhubarb, raspberry or another fruity-flavoured gin to complement the elderflower and lime.
This is not a drink that lends itself to being made ahead of time, as it relies on the soda water and prosecco being fridge-cold and fizzy and the mint leaves being fresh and vibrant. Luckily, it can be stirred together very quickly and it made in the glass it will be served in, which also saves on time.
Opt for a brut (dry) or extra brut (very dry) prosecco, rather than bottles labelled ‘dry’ (which are actually on the sweeter side) or demi-sec (the sweetest variety). The elderflower cordial is already high in sugar, so a drier wine is needed to balance the drink.