Hugo Spritz recipe: the exact proportions
The classic Hugo Spritz recipe is a 3-2-1 build: 90 ml prosecco, 60 ml elderflower syrup and 30 ml soda water over ice, in a large wine glass, finished with a lime wheel and a sprig of fresh mint. That is 180 ml of liquid per drink. The calculator above scales all of it — syrup, prosecco, soda, ice cubes, lime and mint — to as many glasses as you need, up to twelve, and pours the glass layer by layer so you can see the order: ice first, then prosecco, then the elderflower, then a splash of soda. Building it in that order is what keeps the drink light instead of syrupy at the bottom.
What is a Hugo Spritz?
A Hugo Spritz is a variant of the Aperol Spritz in which elderflower syrup replaces the Aperol. Instead of the bittersweet orange edge of the classic Italian spritz, you get something floral, delicate and noticeably less bitter — the same prosecco-and-soda base, a completely different top note. It was created in 2005 in South Tyrol, in the Italian Alps, by bartender Roland Gruber, who was looking for an alternative to the ubiquitous orange spritz; it spread through Austria and Germany and is now the standard summer aperitivo across much of the Alpine region.
Hugo Spritz ingredients: the full list
For one glass you need exactly this: 90 ml prosecco (chilled, dry or brut), 60 ml elderflower syrup (or elderflower cordial — in some bars, elderflower liqueur), 30 ml soda water, 4 ice cubes, 1 lime wheel and 1 sprig of fresh mint. Nothing else. Two notes that matter: the mint should be gently slapped between your palms rather than muddled, so it releases aroma without turning bitter and green, and the glass should be a big-bowled wine glass, not a flute — the volume is what lets the aromatics open up.
How to build it, step by step
Fill the glass with ice all the way to the top. Pour the prosecco first, straight down the middle. Add the elderflower syrup, which is denser and will sink, and stir once, briefly, from the bottom up. Top with the splash of soda. Slide the lime wheel in and add the mint last, so it sits at the nose. One long, slow stir is enough: over-stirring kills the carbonation, which is the entire point of a spritz.
Hugo Spritz vs Aperol Spritz
Same skeleton, different soul. Both use the 3-2-1 ratio of prosecco, modifier and soda over ice in a wine glass. But Aperol brings bitter orange and a deep red-orange colour at 11% ABV, while elderflower syrup brings florals and no alcohol at all, leaving the drink pale gold. In practice that makes the Hugo lighter, sweeter and lower in alcohol: around 5–6% ABV against roughly 9% for an Aperol Spritz built the same way. If the Aperol Spritz tastes too bitter to you, the Hugo is the answer.
Please drink responsibly. Alcohol strength is an approximation based on standard prosecco (about 11% ABV) and does not account for ice melt.
Frequently asked questions
What are the ingredients of a Hugo Spritz?
90 ml prosecco, 60 ml elderflower syrup, 30 ml soda water, 4 ice cubes, 1 lime wheel and 1 mint sprig, in a large wine glass. That is the full list for one drink — 180 ml of liquid.
How many ml of prosecco go in a Hugo Spritz?
90 ml per drink — three of the six parts in the 3-2-1 ratio. A standard 750 ml bottle of prosecco therefore makes about 8 Hugo Spritz.
What is a Hugo Spritz?
A variant of the Aperol Spritz where elderflower syrup replaces the Aperol. Same prosecco-and-soda base, but floral and pale gold instead of bitter and orange. It was created in 2005 in South Tyrol, Italy.
Can you make a Hugo Spritz without alcohol?
Yes, and it is one of the easiest cocktails to make alcohol-free: the elderflower syrup carries no alcohol, so you only need to swap the prosecco. Use an alcohol-free prosecco or sparkling wine (widely available now) in the same 90 ml, keep the syrup, soda, lime and mint, and the drink tastes remarkably close to the original.
What is the difference between a Hugo Spritz and an Aperol Spritz?
The modifier. An Aperol Spritz uses Aperol (bitter orange, 11% ABV, red-orange colour); a Hugo Spritz uses elderflower syrup (floral, no alcohol, pale gold). Everything else — prosecco, soda, ice, big wine glass — is the same. The Hugo is sweeter, lighter and less alcoholic: about 5–6% ABV versus roughly 9%.
Can I use elderflower liqueur instead of syrup?
Yes, many bars do. Elderflower liqueur is around 20% ABV, so the drink gets noticeably stronger (closer to 8–9% ABV) and slightly less sweet. The 60 ml measure stays the same.
What glass is a Hugo Spritz served in?
A large wine glass filled with ice, the same as an Aperol Spritz. The wide bowl is what lets the mint and elderflower aromas open up; a flute traps them.
How strong is a Hugo Spritz?
Around 5–6% ABV when made with syrup, because only the prosecco (about 11% ABV) contributes alcohol — roughly the strength of a beer, and lighter than an Aperol Spritz.