Hugo Cocktail: Recipe for a Refreshing Summer Drink

A warm summer evening, the sun setting over narrow Italian streets, the air filled with the scent of citrus and elderflower. That’s the mood captured in a glass of Hugo. This sweet-and-sour, lightly sparkling cocktail has become a real rival to the world-famous Aperol Spritz in recent years. With its delicate notes of mint and elderflower, Hugo has quickly won the hearts of those who enjoy subtle, floral sweetness.

Hugo gained massive popularity in 2023, when it went viral on TikTok and was crowned the “cocktail of the summer.” But its story began earlier, in 2005, in the Italian town of Naturns. Bartender Roland Gruber was searching for an alternative to Aperol Spritz, which by then was being poured in liters on hot days. After experimenting with ingredients, he first created Hugo with lemon balm syrup, which was later replaced by the more accessible elderflower liqueur.

After reading this description, you’re probably wondering: how can you make a Hugo cocktail at home? To answer that, it’s worth knowing what ingredients go into a Hugo. The hardest one to find is the elderflower syrup or liqueur, while the rest are easily available in almost any store.

The cocktail consists of six main ingredients: Prosecco (extra dry is the most recommended for this cocktail, though brut or dry also work well), elderflower syrup or liqueur, fresh mint, sparkling water, lime, and ice.

There are many ways to prepare this cocktail — in some recipes, Aperol replaces Prosecco, in which case it’s called a Hugo Spritz. However, the most classic and recommended version is as follows:

• Prosecco – 150 ml
• Elderflower syrup or elderflower liqueur – 20 ml
• Sparkling water – 50 ml
• Fresh mint – a few leaves
• Ice – enough to fill the glass
• Lime – 1 piece

These proportions are considered to create the perfect balance between floral notes and sweetness. However, it’s worth noting that there are many variations of this cocktail, so it’s a good idea to experiment with different ratios to find the version that best suits your personal taste.

Italian culture not only shaped Hugo’s citrus-and-elderflower taste but also influenced its visual identity. True to their love of wine and aperitifs, Italians chose wine glasses as the perfect vessel. The requirements are simple: a tall stem and a wide bowl, allowing the aromas of mint and elderflower to fully unfold.
To prepare Hugo like a pro, a few bar tools come in handy: a bar spoon, a muddler (for crushing mint), a jigger (for measuring), and ice tongs.

This cocktail captures the sunshine on your shoulders and the refreshing sparkle of Prosecco on your tongue. Here’s how to make it:

• Fill a wine glass with ice to keep it chilled.
• Crush two lime wedges in the glass and leave the third for garnish.
• Add a few mint leaves and a splash of elderflower syrup or liqueur.
• Slowly pour in Prosecco to keep its bubbles.
• Top with sparkling water for lightness and freshness.
• Lightly bruise a few mint leaves, add them, and stir gently with a bar spoon.
• Garnish with fresh mint and 2–3 lime slices.

Tip: For an even more refreshing drink, chill the glasses in the freezer for 5–10 minutes before serving. Make sure both the Prosecco and sparkling water are well chilled (6–8°C). Keep the syrup, lime, and mint in the fridge as well, so the cocktail stays crisp for longer.

Hugo is an easy and experiment-friendly cocktail. This applies not only to various decoration options, such as fresh or dried flowers and forest berries.

There are also many syrups whose flavors blend beautifully with Hugo — floral ones (like lavender or rose), fruity (such as passion fruit or lime), herbal (like thyme or rosemary), and even honey-based syrups.

The key thing to remember is that Prosecco and mint are the foundation of this cocktail, so any substitutes or additions should harmonize well with those base flavors.

For those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks, there’s also a virgin version of the Hugo cocktail. All you need to do is remove the Prosecco from the ingredient list — or more precisely, replace it with sparkling water. Also, when it comes to choosing between elderflower syrup and liqueur, in the alcohol-free version only the syrup option remains. This gives us the following ingredients:

• Elderflower syrup – 20 ml
• Sparkling water – 200 ml
• Fresh mint – a few leaves
• Ice – enough to fill the glass
• Lime – 1 piece

This is how you can make a non-alcoholic version of the classic Hugo cocktail step by step.

The Hugo cocktail is an easy-to-make, refreshing drink based on Prosecco and elderflower. Regardless of your preferences, everyone can find their own perfect version of this cocktail, inspired by their mood. For fans of non-alcoholic beverages, there’s a simple Prosecco-free recipe that can be easily prepared at home. Hugo is a versatile way to bring a touch of Italian summer into any occasion. Join us on this delightful journey to the seaside!