Hugo Cocktail Recipe
This Hugo Cocktail recipe is a super refreshing drink that can’t be missing on a hot summer day! Elderflower syrup, mint and limes make it a perfect refreshment and combined with some prosecco and sparkling water make it the perfect bubbly cocktail for your BBQ party or picnic.
The history of the Hugo cocktail
This is a Cocktail that got very popular here in Europe a few years ago.
First the Aperol Spritz came up and was the aperitif drink to have in bars. When its prime time slowly started to be over the next big thing came: the Hugo!
It is said that the cocktail was born in the Südtirol area. The original recipe used prosecco, lemon balm syrup, soda and mint and is typically served in a big red wine glas. Over time many variations started to pop up. The main change was that people started to use elderflower syrup instead of the lemon balm syrup.
In the cocktails prime time you could find the drink everywhere and grocery stores even started to sell them. However, the thing that makes this cocktail so good is its freshness. This cocktail has to be made fresh every time to really bring you the best flavor! Luckily this cocktail is super simple to make and only takes a few minutes of your time. So, you won’t have to run to the next bar. You can just simply make this delicious refreshing cocktail at home and enjoy in the sun.
I had many different ways of a Hugo in many bars all over Austria and Switzerland. This recipe combines components of the different variations and is the way my family I like to drink a Hugo.
Ingredients for this Hugo cocktail recipe:
This cocktail is super simple to make and only needs a few ingredients that most have at home:
- Ice: To keep the drink cold
- Elderflower syrup: You can use store bought one. However, I highly recommend you to use a homemade one and make sure you add some lemon or lime zest into the syrup when making it to help bring out the citrusy flavor profile of the Hugo cocktail more. Check out my homemade elderflower syrup for a great recipe!
- Mint leaves: They give your drink some freshness. Make sure you give them a little slap to release the essences.
- Lime: Yet another component giving you freshness and adding that little citrusy kick. This works even better if you use the elderflower with lime or lemon zest in it. Cut the Lime into slices and then cut those slices in half. You can also use one halved slice as decoration.
- Prosecco: The bubble and alcohol component turning this cocktail in a delicious, bubbly drink.
- Sparkling water: To fill up the glas. It helps mixing all the components together and bringing down the strong flavors mixing them into a nice, refreshing mixture and bringing down the strong drink.
How to make a Hugo cocktail?
This Hugo cocktail recipe is super simple to make and only needs a few minutes of your time. Get your ingredients ready and lets make this awesome drink!
I highly recommend you to do a quick mise on place especially if you make more than one glas. If you use fresh mint make sure you remove the leaves from the stem. You can totally use the whole stem but it looks better especially for guests if you only use the leaves. Then make sure you cut the lime into round slices and then cut those lime circles in half. Cut them pretty thin, you don’t need huge slices. They are mainly decorative and give some citrusy flavor to the drink.
Now assemble the drink:
Fill about ¼ of a big red wine glas with ice. Then add the elderflower syrup. Next get some mint leaves and bring the essences out by holding them in one hand and giving them a little clap with your other hand. Add them to the glas. Now we bring in a citrusy component by adding lime slices. Then all you have to do is fill in your small prosecco bottle and fill up the rest of the glas with sparkling water and serve!
The perfect summer cocktails all your guests will love!
Need a homemade elderflower syrup recipe?
This cocktail is best with a homemade elderflower syrup. Check out the recipe for my homemade elderflower syrup recipe here:
Homemade Elderflower Syrup – Oh Sweet Cultureshock
Hugo mocktail for the kids!
Have guests over with kids or your kids want to have a refreshing fancy drink too? Don’t you worry. Simply replace the prosecco with more sparkling water and your kids will have a huge smile on their face.
Other boozy recipes you might like:
Baileys Iced Latte Recipe – Oh Sweet Cultureshock
Boozy Peach Sorbet Float Recipe – Oh Sweet Cultureshock
Best Cherry Smash Cocktail Recipe – Oh Sweet Cultureshock
Passoa Orange Cocktail Recipe – Oh Sweet Cultureshock
Hugo Cocktail Made At Home
Equipment
- Glass (typically served in a red wine glas)
Ingredients
- ice
- 2 cl Elderflower Syrup
- some Mint leaves about 6
- ½ Lime cut into small slices
- 1 small bottle Prosecco 20cl
- Sparkling water
Instructions
- Fill about ¼ of a big red wine glas with ice.
- Add the elderflower syrup.
- Take some mint leaves and bring the essences out by holding them in one hand and giving them a little clap with your other hand. Add them to the glas
- Add some lime slices. I always cut the slices in half again before I add them to the glas.
- Fill in your small bottle of prosecco.
- Fill up the glas with sparkling water. Enjoy!
Notes
- Elderflower syrup: I highly recommend using a homemade one. You can adjust the flavor of your syrup and make it the perfect flavor for this cocktail just the way you like it. Check out this recipe for a great homemade elderflower syrup: Homemade Elderflower Syrup – Oh Sweet Cultureshock . If you swap the lemon zest with lime zest it will go perfectly with the refreshing Hugo.
- Make it a mocktail for the kids: Have guests over with kids or your kids want to have a refreshing fancy drink too? Don’t you worry. Simply replace the prosecco with more sparkling water and your kids will have a huge smile on their face.
Your Notes
Nutrition
PIN THE IMAGE BELOW TO SAVE THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!
Can’t wait to make this. It looks absolutely delicious.
I am so excited you want to try this cocktail Roma! Let me know how you liked it once you do! Can’t wait to hear from you 😀
This recipe looks really refreshing and perfect for summer! I’m allergic to citrus, so I’m interested in your mention of lemon balm syrup in the original recipe. Do you know if that’s something that can be purchased?
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for asking. Yes, we can get it at a small local store that has many special items and when in season we can find them at the farmers market. You have to be careful when buying lemon balm syrup tough as it often contains lemon juice or was cooked with lemon peels. If you can not find any without citrus in it you can easily make the syrup yourself. Simply mix 1 part sugar with 1 part water in a pot and add a handful of lemon balm leaves. Bring to a slight boil while stirring till the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat and let it steep for at least 30 minutes so the lemon balm leaves can infuse. Then pour the syrup into a sterilized bottle or jar and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
I hope that helps. Please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Cheers,
Bianca
wow this tasted as good as it looks. SO refreshing
This was a great recipe and perfect for next to the pool or as a brunch alternative.
We made this cocktail over the holiday and it was a huge success, we loved it. Also, the kids enjoyed it so much as I followed your guidelines to make it free from alcohol. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Hi Fede,
Thank you so much for trying this recipe! I am so happy that the whole family loved it and hope your holiday was amazing.
Cheers,
Bianca
love this cocktail!! It’s the perfect drink for summer, and it’s easy to make!
The homemade elderflower syrup makes this drink! Cheers!
Made it for a girlfriend evening and was a great success. Refreshing and so tasty. It was a challenge to found the syrup luckuly our local specialty store had it