Hugo Cocktail
The Hugo cocktail is a light, bubbly aperitif made with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, mint, lime, and soda water. It is floral, fresh, and easy to build right in the glass.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 1 cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 5mCook 0mItalianDrinks
The Hugo cocktail started in northern Italy, where bright, low-effort spritz-style drinks are made for warm afternoons and early evening snacks. It is softer and more floral than an Aperol spritz, with elderflower bringing a sweet, fragrant note.
This version uses elderflower liqueur, chilled Prosecco, a splash of soda water, fresh mint, and lime. You build it over ice, so there is no shaker and no special technique beyond a gentle stir.
Serve it as an aperitif, which means a drink before a meal, or make a few for a relaxed patio gathering. The key is to keep everything cold and stir gently so the bubbles stay lively.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
7 items · 1 cocktail
- Ice, enough to fill a large wine glass
- 6 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, such as St-Germain
- 4 ounces chilled Prosecco
- 1 ounce chilled club soda or sparkling water
- 1 lime wheel or wedge, for garnish
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Chill the glass
Use a large wine glass or spritz glass. If you have time, chill it in the freezer for 5 minutes. A cold glass helps the ice melt more slowly and keeps the drink crisp.
2. Wake up the mint
Place the mint leaves in the glass and gently clap them between your hands or press them once with a spoon. This releases the mint aroma without bruising the leaves too much, which can make them taste bitter.
3. Add lime and elderflower
Pour in the fresh lime juice and elderflower liqueur. Give them a brief swirl in the bottom of the glass so the flavors start to mix.
4. Fill with ice
Add ice until the glass is about three-quarters full. Use larger cubes if you have them, since they melt more slowly than small crushed ice.
5. Pour in the Prosecco
Slowly add the chilled Prosecco. Pouring gently down the side of the glass helps preserve the bubbles.
6. Top with soda
Add the chilled club soda or sparkling water. This lightens the drink and gives it the refreshing spritz texture.
7. Stir gently
Use a bar spoon or regular spoon to stir once or twice from the bottom. Do not stir hard, or the drink will lose its fizz.
8. Garnish and serve
Add a lime wheel and a fresh mint sprig. Serve right away while the Hugo is cold and sparkling.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: Do not fully mix a Hugo cocktail ahead of time because the Prosecco and soda will go flat. You can chill the glass, wash the mint, juice the lime, and measure the elderflower liqueur in advance.
- Batching for a group: For 6 drinks, combine 6 ounces elderflower liqueur and 3 ounces lime juice in a small pitcher. Keep cold. When serving, pour 1 1/2 ounces of the mixture into each ice-filled glass, then add mint, 4 ounces Prosecco, and 1 ounce soda per drink.
- Swap the liqueur: Elderflower syrup can be used for a lower-alcohol version, but it is sweeter. Start with 1/2 to 3/4 ounce syrup instead of 1 ounce liqueur, then adjust to taste.
- Choose a dry Prosecco: Look for Brut or Extra Dry. Despite the name, Extra Dry has a little sweetness, but it still works well here. Very sweet sparkling wine can make the cocktail taste heavy.
- No Prosecco? Use another dry sparkling wine, such as Cava. Champagne also works, though its flavor is usually more toasty and less fruity.
- Storage: Leftover opened Prosecco should be sealed with a sparkling wine stopper and refrigerated. It is best within 1 day, though it may lose some fizz.
Cook's note
Nutrition is calculated for 1 cocktail made with 4 ounces Prosecco, 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, 1 ounce club soda, mint, and garnish. Values are estimates and can change by brand, especially for elderflower liqueur and sparkling wine.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
What does a Hugo cocktail taste like?
It tastes light, bubbly, floral, and gently sweet. Elderflower gives it a fragrant flavor, while mint, lime, Prosecco, and soda keep it fresh.
Can I make a Hugo cocktail without alcohol?
Yes. Use elderflower syrup instead of elderflower liqueur, and replace Prosecco with a nonalcoholic sparkling wine or extra sparkling water. Start with less syrup because it can be very sweet.
Is a Hugo cocktail the same as an Aperol spritz?
No. They are both sparkling aperitif drinks, but an Aperol spritz is bittersweet and orange-flavored. A Hugo is more floral and herbal because it uses elderflower and mint.
Can I use lemon instead of lime?
Yes. Lemon gives the drink a slightly softer citrus flavor. Use the same amount of fresh lemon juice, then taste before adding more.
Why is my Hugo cocktail too sweet?
The elderflower liqueur or sparkling wine may be sweet. Use a dry Prosecco, add an extra splash of soda, or add a little more lime juice to balance it.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
1 cocktail
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium8 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate14 g
- 5%
- Dietary Fiber0 g
- 0%
- Total Sugars12 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium13 mg
- 1%
- Iron0.2 mg
- 1%
- Potassium83 mg
- 2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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