Trending · 2025–2026 #6 most trending
Hugo Spritz
built · The Speakeasy Selection
Hugo Spritz
"Aperol Spritz's more romantic, more fragrant younger sibling."
At a Glance
| Trend Rank | #6 · Fastest-Growing Spritz in the US (2025) |
| Vibe | Delicate · Romantic · Garden-Fresh · Elevated |
| Strength | Low (approx. 7–10% ABV) |
| Best For | Garden parties · Summer weddings · Romantic brunches |
| Skill Level | Easy — built in the glass |
Flavor Profile
The Hugo leads with elderflower's distinctive floral perfume — lighter than a rose, more complex than honey, with a hint of lychee and green grape. Mint adds coolness; lime adds definition. The Prosecco carries it all on bubbles. It's the most aromatic spritz.
Ingredients
Classic Hugo Spritz (1 serving)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prosecco | 90 ml / 3 oz | Dry preferred; avoid brut — Hugo's profile is delicate, not austere |
| Elderflower liqueur | 30 ml / 1 oz | St-Germain is the gold standard; Monin elderflower syrup for NA version |
| Soda water | 30 ml / 1 oz | Fresh sparkling mineral water works beautifully |
| Fresh mint | 3–4 sprigs | Gently clapped between palms before adding to release oils |
| Lime | 1–2 slices | Adds brightness; optional but recommended |
Instructions
- Fill a large balloon wine glass with 2–3 ice cubes.
- Clap your mint sprigs between your palms to bruise them slightly and release the aromatic oils — this is the step most recipes skip and shouldn't.
- Add mint and lime slices to the glass.
- Pour Prosecco first, gently.
- Add elderflower liqueur — watch the light cloud form.
- Top with soda water and stir very gently once.
- Garnish with an additional mint sprig and lime slice on the rim.
- Serve immediately.
Elderflower note: St-Germain (the French elderflower liqueur) brings a lightly sweet, lychee-and-pear quality that defines the Hugo. You can substitute a 1:1 elderflower cordial for a non-alcoholic version that maintains the spirit perfectly.
Glassware & Presentation
Glass: Large balloon wine glass Serve: On the rocks Temperature: Cold but not ice-cold — Hugo's florals are slightly muted when too cold Garnish: Fresh mint sprig + lime slice
Presentation upgrade: Add a few edible flowers (viola, elderflower blossoms if in season) for a garden-party level visual.
The Story
The Hugo Spritz was created in 2005 by Roland Gruber, a bartender in Naturno, South Tyrol — the mountainous, culturally German-Italian region in northern Italy. Gruber was experimenting with elderflower syrup, which was widely available in the Alpine region where elderflower grows abundantly, and built a Prosecco spritz around it.
For nearly a decade, Hugo was beloved regionally. Then it began spreading south into Italian aperitivo culture, north into Germany and Austria, and by the early 2020s it had crossed into the broader European consciousness. By 2024–2025, it was making serious inroads in the US — showing up on rooftop menus in New York, LA, and Miami, and gaining momentum on TikTok as the "grown-up, sophisticated alternative to Aperol."
What makes Hugo different: where Aperol is bitter and orange-bold, Hugo is floral, soft, and almost ethereal. It's the drink that says "I found this on a trip to Tuscany" — which is exactly why it photographs so well.
By the Numbers
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| US search growth (Hugo Spritz, 2024–2025) | +210% |
| Dominant market | Germany, Austria, Italy (top-ordered spritz) |
| St-Germain sales growth tied to Hugo trend | +35% YoY (2024) |
| TikTok hashtag views (#hugospritz) | 420M+ |
| Average bar price (US, 2025) | $13–$18 |
Quick-Reference Card
HUGO SPRITZ
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Prosecco 90 ml
Elderflower liqueur 30 ml (St-Germain)
Soda water 30 ml
Fresh mint 3–4 sprigs (clapped)
Lime 1–2 slices
→ Build in glass over ice
→ Prosecco first, then elderflower, then soda
→ Stir gently once
→ Garnish: fresh mint sprig + lime slice
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Variations
| Variation | Twist |
|---|---|
| Peach Hugo | Add 20 ml fresh peach purée — stone fruit meets elderflower |
| Cucumber Hugo | Add 3 thin cucumber slices — cool, spa-like, very photogenic |
| Berry Hugo | Muddle 3 raspberries or blackberries — adds color and tartness |
| Rose Hugo | Add 10 ml rosé wine — deepens color and adds berry notes |
| Lavender Hugo | Substitute elderflower with lavender syrup for a more aromatic version |
| Winter Hugo | Serve warm with warm Prosecco, elderflower, and chamomile tea |
Pairing Suggestions
- Food: Caprese salad, light seafood, smoked salmon, lemon tart, shortbread cookies, chèvre and fig
- Occasion: Garden parties, baby showers, summer weddings, Mother's Day brunch
- Music vibe: Acoustic folk, French café music, light classical guitar
- #hugospritz
- #hugo
- #elderflower
- #stgermain
- #spritz
- #floraldrinks
- #mintcocktail
- #summerdrinks
- #lowabv
- #therapeuticcocktails
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Hugo is floral and soft — elderflower, mint, and lime — while Aperol is bitter and orange-bold. Hugo is also lower in alcohol and significantly more aromatic. If Aperol Spritz is the extrovert, Hugo is the romantic. They suit different moods entirely.
-
Yes — use about 20 ml elderflower cordial (it's sweeter, so use less than the 30 ml of St-Germain). Monin and Belvoir both work well. The result is slightly less complex but the floral profile holds. For a fully alcohol-free Hugo, this swap makes the drink completely zero-proof.
-
Two likely culprits: Prosecco that's lost its fizz (always open fresh and pour slowly), or over-stirring. Stir just once gently after adding the soda. Also note that Hugo's florals are muted when too cold — if it's tasting thin, try using fewer ice cubes or letting it sit for 30 seconds before drinking.
From the Lab
Master the craft behind this drink
The fundamentals that make this drink work — explained in The Lab.