Hugo Spritz Cocktail Recipe: St-Germain Summer Aperitif

This Hugo Spritz recipe makes a light, floral, prosecco-based cocktail with elderflower and fresh mint. It's refreshing, low in bitterness, and hard to get wrong. You can make a good one on your first try. (And if you've wondered, Italians say it "OO-go.")

What Is a Hugo Spritz?

A Hugo Spritz combines prosecco with St-Germain elderflower liqueur. Fresh mint leaves add aroma, and a splash of club soda or soda water adds fizz. It's served in a large wine glass, garnished with a sprig of mint and a lemon or lime wedge.

If you like the Aperol Spritz but want something lighter and more floral, the Hugo is your drink.

The History of the Hugo Spritz

The Hugo Spritz was created in northern Italy in 2005, in the Tyrol region of South Tyrol. Bartender Roland Gruber is credited with inventing it as an alternative to the Aperol Spritz. It has since spread across Europe and beyond, and it's now a fixture in the spritz category.

Why Choose a Hugo Spritz?

A Hugo Spritz is lighter and more floral than aperitifs like Aperol or Campari. It takes a few ingredients and a couple of minutes, so it works for a casual night in or a party. The St-Germain, prosecco, and mint stay balanced, and the mint and citrus garnish carry the aroma.

For more on how spritzes compare, see our St-Germain Spritz guide.

Hugo Spritz Ingredients

You need a few ingredients to make a Hugo Spritz:

• 3 oz prosecco
• 1.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
• 1 oz club soda or soda water
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• Lemon or lime wedge for garnish
• Ice

The prosecco brings the sparkle. The St-Germain brings a sweet floral note. The mint brings aroma, and the club soda adds fizz. Don't skip the lemon or lime wedge. The bottle of prosecco you pick matters more here than in most cocktails, and we tested the options in our guide to the best prosecco for a Hugo Spritz.

The Hugo Spritz Ratio

The ratio that keeps a Hugo balanced: 3 parts prosecco, 1.5 parts elderflower liqueur, 1 part soda. Scale it to any glass or pitcher and it holds. If your drinks keep coming out too sweet, the fix is almost never less prosecco. Cut the St-Germain to 1 part and let the soda stretch it. Too flat? You added the soda first and stirred too hard. Prosecco goes in before soda, and the stir stays gentle.

The Role of Fresh Mint

Fresh mint matters in a Hugo Spritz. Muddled gently, the leaves release oils that give the drink its fresh character. Press the mint in the wine glass before you add anything else. Go easy: over-muddling turns mint bitter. Use a sprig as garnish for the aroma.

How to Make a Hugo Spritz

Muddle the mint gently, then build the drink over ice:

1. Add ice to a large wine glass.
2. Gently muddle 6-8 mint leaves in the glass (don't overdo it).
3. Pour in 1.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur.
4. Add 3 oz prosecco.
5. Top with 1 oz club soda.
6. Stir gently to combine.
7. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon or lime wedge.

Handle the mint gently. You want the oils, not shredded leaves and a bitter drink.

The Right Glass

A large-bowl wine glass or copa glass, filled generously with ice. The wide bowl gives the mint aroma room to reach your nose, and the ice volume matters: more ice melts slower, so the drink stays cold without going watery. A skinny flute is the wrong tool here. There's no room for ice or mint, and the drink warms in minutes.

Common Hugo Spritz Mistakes

Over-muddling the mint. Five or six gentle presses. Shredded mint is bitter mint.

Sweet prosecco. The liqueur carries the sugar. A dry (brut) prosecco keeps the drink refreshing instead of cloying.

Not enough ice. Fill the glass. A half-iced spritz is warm by the third sip.

Skipping the soda. That ounce of soda is what separates a spritz from a wine cocktail. It lifts the whole drink.

Hugo Spritz Calories

A standard Hugo Spritz runs about 160 to 180 calories. Most of that is the St-Germain, since elderflower liqueur carries real sugar, with the prosecco adding 60 to 70 and the soda adding nothing. Want it lighter? Drop the St-Germain to 1 oz and add soda, which lands the drink around 130 without losing the floral character.

Hugo Spritz Variations

The classic Hugo Spritz is good on its own. A few seasonal swaps change it up:

Summer Hugo: Add a few slices of cucumber for extra freshness.

Berry Hugo: Muddle a few fresh raspberries or blackberries with the mint.

Citrus Hugo: Add a splash of fresh grapefruit juice for tartness.

Non-Alcoholic Hugo: Replace the prosecco with sparkling grape juice and use elderflower syrup instead of St-Germain. For more mocktail ideas, see our recipe collection.

What to Serve with a Hugo Spritz

The Hugo Spritz works as an aperitif. Its light, floral notes go with appetizers like bruschetta, Caprese salad, or light seafood. It also cuts spicy food. Serve it with a cheese board of soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese; the elderflower sweetness works with the creamy texture.

For more pairing ideas, see our dinner party themes guide.

Hugo Spritz vs. Other Spritzes

The spritz family has several variations, each with its own character:

Hugo Spritz: Floral, minty, light. Built on elderflower liqueur.

Aperol Spritz: Bittersweet, orange-forward. The most popular spritz worldwide.

Limoncello Spritz: Bright, lemony, sweet. Perfect for citrus lovers.

St-Germain Spritz: Similar to the Hugo but without the mint. Purely floral.

All spritzes share the same structure: a flavoring agent, sparkling wine, and soda water. The Hugo stands out for the herbal freshness the mint adds.

Making a Hugo Spritz for a Crowd

Hosting a party? The Hugo Spritz batches well. For 8 servings:

• 1 bottle (750ml) prosecco
• 12 oz St-Germain
• 8 oz club soda
• Large bunch of fresh mint
• Lemon and lime wedges

Combine the St-Germain and gently muddled mint in a pitcher and refrigerate until serving. When you're ready, add the prosecco and club soda, stir gently, and pour over ice in individual glasses. Garnish each with fresh mint and citrus.

Hugo Spritz FAQ

What does a Hugo Spritz taste like?

A Hugo Spritz tastes light, floral, and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness from the elderflower liqueur. The fresh mint adds an herbal, aromatic note. It's less bitter than an Aperol Spritz and more complex than a plain wine spritzer.

What's in a Hugo Spritz?

A Hugo Spritz contains prosecco, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, club soda, and fresh mint, garnished with a lemon or lime wedge.

What Is the Hugo Spritz Ratio?

3 parts prosecco, 1.5 parts elderflower liqueur, 1 part club soda. In a standard glass that's 3 oz, 1.5 oz, and 1 oz over ice.

Can I make a Hugo Spritz without St-Germain?

St-Germain is traditional, but you can substitute other elderflower liqueurs like Giffard or Bols. For a non-alcoholic version, use elderflower syrup or cordial.

What's the best prosecco for a Hugo Spritz?

Use a dry (brut) prosecco for the best balance. The elderflower liqueur adds sweetness, so a dry prosecco keeps the drink from getting cloying. Mid-range prosecco works fine, and our full breakdown of the best prosecco for spritzes names bottles by style.

How many calories are in a Hugo Spritz?

About 160 to 180 calories in a standard build. The St-Germain carries most of them. Cutting it to 1 oz and topping with extra soda lands the drink around 130.

How do I keep mint from getting bitter?

Muddle gently. Press the leaves just enough to release their oils, about 5-6 light presses. Don't twist, grind, or shred them; over-muddling releases bitter compounds.

Is a Hugo Spritz sweet?

Moderately. St-Germain adds noticeable sweetness, but the dry prosecco and fresh mint balance it. For less sweetness, reduce the St-Germain to 1 oz or add extra club soda.

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