TikTok's Hugo Spritz Cocktail Recipe

How to Make a Hugo Spritz, the Italian Cocktail That's Trending on TikTok

21 July 2023 by Kalea Martín First Published: 13 July 2023

hugo spritz cocktail recipe

Like pumpkin spice in the fall and hot cocoa in the winter, the summer isn't in full swing until you have that first glass of Aperol spritz. There's just something about the cocktail that makes you want to relish in the warm weather, long days, and the sweetness of doing nothing. You'd think that the bright orange liqueur is what evokes the taste of summer in a glass, but a Hugo spritz is proof that it's actually the Prosecco on ice and the fresh lemon that really does it.

In case you haven't caught wind of TikTok's new favourite drink, a Hugo spritz is an Italian aperitif made a lot like an Aperol spritz. Though it only recently started trending on social media, the Hugo spritz has been an Italian staple since 2005, when Italian mixologist Roland Gruber first concocted it. It often gets lost in the limelight of the Aperol spritz, but some argue the Hugo spritz actually deserves all the attention, and you might end up agreeing when you try it.

Both cocktails contain Prosecco, club soda, and lemon, however a Hugo spritz gets its flavour not from Aperol but rather a combination of St. Germain — an elderflower liqueur — and fresh mint. Thanks to these ingredients, a Hugo spritz (sometimes called a St. Germain spritz) ends up having a much sweeter, uniquely floral flavour. It's just as refreshing, bubbly, and summery as its orange counterpart, but lacks the distinct bitterness of Aperol, instead replacing it with an almost perfumey taste.

If you like your cocktails on the sweeter side or simply want to switch things up this summer, a Hugo spritz might be just the drink for you. Check out the full recipe below to learn how to make it.

hugo spritz cocktail recipe with ingredients