Hugo Spritz Recipe

Learn how to make a Hugo Spritz Recipe in under 5 minutes with just three ingredients. This bubbly, floral prosecco cocktail recipe is the ultimate refreshing summer sipper.

Okay, real talk: the first time my friend handed me a Hugo Spritz on her patio, I thought she’d just dressed up elderflower cordial and called it fancy. Turns out this drink is basically summer in a glass, and now I make it every single time the sun comes out.

Why You’ll Love This Hugo Spritz

This isn’t your average cocktail that needs a bartending degree and six random bottles from the back of your liquor cabinet. A classic Hugo Spritz comes together with three ingredients, a handful of ice, and maybe ninety seconds of your time.

It’s light, it’s bubbly, and it’s got this soft floral sweetness from the St Germain Spritz base that makes it taste way fancier than the effort it actually takes. Basically, it’s the cocktail equivalent of showing up to a potluck with a store-bought pie that everyone thinks you baked from scratch.

What Makes a Hugo Spritz So Special

The magic is really in the elderflower liqueur. It’s floral without being perfume-y, sweet without giving you a headache, and it plays so nicely with sparkling wine that you’ll wonder why you haven’t been drinking this all along.

If you’re a fan of easy, breezy drinks, this one sits right up there with our other warm-weather favorites. Honestly, if you love browsing all our easy recipes, this drink fits right into that “minimal effort, maximum reward” category.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s the whole shopping list. Yes, it’s this short.

Ingredient	Amount
St-Germain elderflower liqueur	1 1/2 oz
Sparkling wine (prosecco works beautifully)	2 oz
Sparkling water	2 oz
Lime wedge	For garnish
Fresh mint sprig	For garnish

A quick note on the bubbles: this is really a prosecco cocktail recipe at heart, so grab a bottle you’d actually enjoy drinking on its own. You don’t need anything expensive, just something dry and crisp.

How to Make a Hugo Spritz

Step 1: Fill Your Glass with Ice

Grab a big wine glass or a rocks glass and pack it with ice. Don’t be shy here, more ice means your drink stays cold and doesn’t get watered down too fast.

Step 2: Pour in the Bubbles

Pour the sparkling wine and sparkling water right over the ice. Listen to that fizz crackle for a second, it’s honestly one of the most satisfying sounds in the kitchen.

Step 3: Add the St-Germain

Now pour in your St-Germain elderflower liqueur. This is where the whole drink transforms from “fine, I guess” to “wait, what IS this and can I have another.”

Step 4: Give It a Gentle Stir

Stir gently with a bar spoon or even just a straw. You want to combine everything without knocking all the fizz out, so treat it like you’re stirring a sleeping baby’s crib mobile.

Step 5: Garnish and Enjoy

Top it off with a fresh mint sprig and a lime wedge. Give the mint a light slap between your palms first to release the oils, it sounds fussy but it genuinely makes the aroma pop when you take that first sip.

Expert Tips for the Best Hugo Spritz

Getting the Ratios Right

The classic Hugo Spritz ratio leans slightly heavier on the elderflower than most spritz cocktails you’ve had before. If you want it a touch drier, just add a splash more sparkling water.

Chill Everything First

Cold ingredients mean less melted ice, which means your drink stays properly balanced instead of turning into flavored water halfway through. Pop your prosecco and sparkling water in the fridge a few hours ahead if you can.

Fresh Mint Matters

I know it’s tempting to skip the fresh herbs, but trust me on this one. Dried mint just doesn’t do the same job, and fresh mint is what gives this drink that garden-party feeling.

Variations to Try

Once you’ve nailed the classic Hugo Spritz, feel free to play around a bit.

• Swap regular lime for a few slices of cucumber for an even more garden-fresh vibe.
• Add a few fresh raspberries or a splash of elderflower cordial if you want it sweeter.
• Try it with a rosé prosecco cocktail recipe twist for a slightly pink, extra-pretty version.
• Make it a mocktail by skipping the St-Germain and using an elderflower syrup instead.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your Hugo Spritz tastes flat, it’s probably the ice melting too fast or your sparkling wine sitting open too long. Always use fresh, cold bubbles and don’t let the drink sit around before serving.

Too sweet? Cut back slightly on the St-Germain and add a bit more sparkling water. Too bland? You probably need a touch more elderflower liqueur, or fresher mint to boost the aroma.

Storage and Leftovers

Cocktails like this are really meant to be enjoyed fresh, but here’s how to handle any extra ingredients.

Item	Storage Method	How Long It Lasts
Opened St-Germain	Store in a cool, dark pantry or fridge	Up to 1 year
Opened sparkling wine	Reseal and refrigerate	1-3 days (flat after)
Fresh mint	Wrap in a damp paper towel, refrigerate	Up to 1 week
Mixed cocktail	Not recommended to store	Best enjoyed immediately

No-Waste Kitchen Ideas

Got extra lime wedges? Toss them into a pitcher of water for the next day. Leftover mint can go straight into a fruit salad, or even into a batch of our lemon blueberry recipes for a fresh herby twist.

If your prosecco goes flat before you finish the bottle, don’t pour it out. Use it in a light vinaigrette or a fruity dessert glaze instead.

Nutritional Information

Here’s a rough breakdown per serving, keep in mind exact numbers will vary based on your specific brands.

Nutrient	Approximate Amount
Calories	150 kcal
Carbohydrates	14g
Sugar	12g
Alcohol	Approx. 8% ABV per glass
Sodium	5mg

Hugo Spritz Recipe FAQs

Conclusion

This Hugo Spritz is proof that the best drinks don’t need a fancy bar cart or a dozen ingredients. Just grab your bubbles, your elderflower, and a sprig of mint, and you’re set.

Give this recipe a try this weekend, and if you love it as much as I do, pin it on Pinterest so you can find it again next time you need a easy, breezy cocktail. Drop a comment below and let me know how yours turned out!