A Refreshing Hugo Spritz Recipe with St Germain
You’re going to love this Hugo Spritz recipe. It’s a super refreshing cocktail made with St Germain, champagne and fresh mint. This classic summer wine cocktail is the easy-drinking spritzer your next girls’ afternoon needs. With just 4 simple ingredients it also takes just 5 minutes to make!
This sparkling wine spritzer is the Italian elderflower cocktail you need!
St Germain and Champagne is a classic combination taken to the next level in this delicious alternative to an Aperol Spritz.
A spritz recipe to make all summer long
A Hugo Spritz is one of the best wine cocktail recipes out there. Made with St Germain elderflower liqueur topped up with sparkling wine and soda water sipping one just feels like summer.
St Germain is a French liqueur infused with fresh elderflowers that is great for adding a touch of sweetness to cocktails without being too overpowering.
Related: St Germain Wine Spritzer
And did I mention how easy this champagne spritzer is to make??
If you own spritz glasses, a muddler and a bar spoon, great! But all you really need to make this easy-drinking summer cocktail is a measuring cup.
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make a Hugo Spritz for your next happy hour:
- St Germain
- Prosecco, I’ve used pink (because why not??) but any will do!
- Soda Water
- Fresh Mint
If you already have a bottle of sparkling wine like Champagne or Cremant at home and you don’t want to go out to buy Prosecco you can totally use that instead.
Prosecco is the natural choice for this Italian sparkling wine spritzer, but you do you!
I used this Jaqueline Leonne sparkling rosé wine to make this because it’s what I had on hand and this is particularly dry for a rosé. There’s really no wrong way to make this. Use what you like!
Hugo Spritzers sometimes contain a dash of gin but I’ve left it out to keep this spritzer light and easy to drink. These are so good you’ll want to be able to enjoy a couple of them!!
If you want to add gin, try to choose something floral to compliment the elderflower of St Germain.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities and full recipe.
Directions
Step 1
Add St Germain to the spritz glass.
You don’t have to use a spritz glass (the ones shown are considered red wine glasses but I think they look like a spritz glass) I just love the way they look! A regular wine glass is fine.
Step 2
Add the mint leaves.
Step 3
Muddle to release all of that lovely mint flavor and smell, and leave to infuse for 3 minutes.
NOTE: This is key! The flavors are pretty subtle in this cocktail so letting the mint mingle with the St Germain will make it a little more bold.
Step 4
Add ice.
Step 5
Top with champagne or prosecco.
I like to measure everything so that I get the balance right. I’m a terrible estimator. Feel free to wing it.
Step 6
Top with soda water.
I like slightly crushed ice in my summer spritzers as it keeps things nice and cool!
Step 7
Gently stir with a bar spoon so you don’t make the spritz fizz up too much, and add a fresh mint garnish.
Hint: Clap the fresh mint between your hands before adding as a garnish to lightly bruise it so it will release its fragrant oils.
And enjoy! This Hugo Spritz recipe is crazy easy to make and deliciously refreshing for those warm spring and summer days.
Variations
- Cucumber – add slices or ribbons of cucumber made with a vegetable peeler (these are super pretty!) to the spritz glass to infuse a bit of cucumber flavor. This version is super refreshing. I’ve not tried it, but I think cucumber flavored soda water would also work well here (but don’t be tempted to substitute for tonic water which will make the spritz bitter. Not what we’re going for here!)
- Citrus – slices of lime added to the glass will add a little freshness and zip! Lemon would also work but I think lime tastes better.
Top tips
- Want a sweeter cocktail? Just add a dash of simple syrup.
- Looking for a lower-alcohol drink? Just reduce the amount of sparkling wine and add a little more soda water instead.
- To make Hugo Spritz for a crowd, just scale up the recipe in a pitcher. Add the mint to the St Germain ahead of time to really infuse with flavor. Don’t add the champagne or club soda until just before serving.
- If you just make a single spritz for yourself, you can use individual-sized Prosecco so you don’t waste a whole bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just add a splash to each glass with the St Germain.
Of course not! If I’ve got a lot of people around I serve this summer spritz in different kinds of wine glasses. I love stemless glasses. And I’m not going to judge you if you want to use plastic disposable glasses instead, or even paper cups!
I urge you to get a bottle of St Germain because it is delicious and you can use it in lots of recipes. You can use any other brand of elderflower liqueur too.
If you can get hold of elderflower syrup or cordial (but not elderberry, which will make your cocktail fruity not floral) you can substitute those instead. These are typically non-alcoholic which would make the drink lower in alcohol.
More easy wine spritzer recipes
- Refreshing Grapefruit Spritzer with Sparkling Wine
- Sparkling Lemon Lavender Spritz Recipe with Prosecco
- White Wine Spritzer with Soda Water
- Red Wine Spritzer with LaCroix Soda Water
- Blood Orange and Thyme Spritzer with Sauvignon Blanc
- Cointreau Spritz with St. Germain
- Elderflower St Germain and Soda
Since you already have a bottle of St Germain you should also make these boozy Elderflower Liqueur Cupcakes!
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Hugo Spritz with St Germain
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz St Germain
- 4 sprigs Fresh Mint
- 4 oz Prosecco
- 1 oz Soda Water
Instructions
- In a spritz glass muddle the fresh mint leaves and St Germain. Let sit for 3 minutes.
- Add ice and top with prosecco and soda water.
- Stir gently.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves.
Notes
- Cucumber – add slices or ribbons of cucumber made with a vegetable peeler (these are super pretty!) to the spritz glass to infuse a bit of cucumber flavor. This version is super refreshing. I’ve not tried it, but I think cucumber flavored soda water would also work well here (but don’t be tempted to substitute for tonic water which will make the spritz bitter. Not what we’re going for!)
- Citrus – slices of lime added to the glass will add a little freshness and zip! Lemon would also work but I think lime tastes better.
- Want a sweeter cocktail? Just add a dash of simple syrup.
- Looking for a lower alcohol drink? Just reduce the amount of sparkling wine and add a little more soda water instead.
- To make Hugo Spritz for a crowd, just scale up the recipe in a pitcher. Just be careful when adding the Prosecco and the soda water, and stirring the drink.
- If you just a single spritz for yourself, you can use individual-sized Prosecco so you don’t waste a whole bottle.
A Hugo Spritz is refreshing and crisp and one of my favorite easy cocktails to serve guests.