Hugo Cocktail

Hugo cocktail, also known as Hugo Spritz, is a typical Italian aperitivo drink. If you like sparkling wine cocktails this prosecco-based drink is a fresh and pleasant aromatic aperitif. Great for anytime of year but especially when the weather heats up in the summer. Why not surprise your friends with a fantastic refreshing glass of Hugo cocktail?
Hugo could be served before dinner with an appetizer or paired with many plates like pasta, seafood, pizza and cold cuts or other Italian recipes.
The Hugo cocktail recipe, originated in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige (Südtirol) was created in 2005 by Roland Gruber at the San Zeno Wine & Cocktail Bar in Naturno (Bolzano), combining Prosecco sparkling wine, lemon balm syrup, a splash of soda water and few mint leaves.

Soon eldelflower syrup -or liqueur- replaced the lemon balm syrup, due to the fact that the elderberry (Sambucus) is a very popular plant that grows in Trentino-Alto Adige therefore the Hugo cocktail recipe changed. This low-alcohol cocktail was first mixed as an alternative to the Spritz Aperol. It quickly became very popular in Italy and then in Germany and Austria also.

Aromatic and versatile with a fine elderflower aroma, this bubbly-based cocktail is one of our favourite Italian cocktail recipes: Hugo spritz is quick and very easy to make at home.
With a good bottle of prosecco and only a couple of more ingredients -like elderflower syrup and mint leaves-, you could prepare an outstanding Hugo cocktail even if you don’t have any bartending skills at all. 

Method

Fill a wineglass of ice cubes, pour prosecco, elderflowers syrup and soda water. Mix gently and garnish with mint leaves.

Hugo Cocktail Tips

1. You could try it with a lemon wheel or muddled cucumber slices as garnish if desired.
2. Another interesting variant on the classic Hugo recipe, includes a measure of gin.
3. Serve your Hugo drink in a large wine glass or in a balloon glass.