Hugo Spritz Mocktail Recipe: Fresh, Floral, and Easy

A Hugo spritz mocktail is a bubbly, minty drink made with elderflower syrup, lime, sparkling water, and alcohol-free sparkling wine. Associated with South Tyrol in northern Italy, the original spritz has regional variations; this version keeps its floral, citrusy character while making a refreshing zero-proof pour for any occasion.

Ingredients

1 cup (240 ml) chilled alcohol-free sparkling wine or alcohol-free sparkling white grape juice. Choose a dry style if possible; grape juice tends to be sweeter, so you may want less elderflower syrup.
1/2 cup (120 ml) chilled plain sparkling water. Soda water or seltzer both work. Avoid tonic water unless you want a noticeable bitter edge.
1/4 cup (60 ml) elderflower cordial or syrup. This gives the drink its floral sweetness. Cordials vary in strength, so start with this amount and adjust to taste.
1 lime (about 2 tablespoons / 30 ml juice), plus 2 thin wheels for garnish. You will use about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of juice in the recipe; save extra for a tarter finish.
12 fresh mint leaves (about 2 g), plus 2 small mint sprigs for garnish. Choose clean, bright leaves without dark or wilted edges.
1 1/2 cups ice (about 210 g). This is enough to fill two glasses generously and keep the drink cold as you serve it.

Instructions

Prepare the citrus and mint (3 minutes). Rinse and dry the lime and mint. Cut two thin lime wheels, then juice the lime. Measure 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of juice for the drink. Gently pat the mint dry so water does not dilute the finished glasses.
Release the mint’s aroma (2 minutes). Divide the 12 mint leaves between two glasses. Add about half of the lime juice to each, then press the leaves lightly with a muddler or the back of a spoon. A few gentle presses are enough: the aim is to release the fragrance, not grind the leaves into pieces.
Add the elderflower syrup (2 minutes). Pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of cordial into each glass. Stir briefly to combine it with the lime and mint. Taste a small drop from a spoon; if your cordial is especially sweet, add a little more lime juice before adding the sparkling ingredients.
Fill and build the drinks (3 minutes). Add about 3/4 cup (105 g) of ice to each glass. Pour 1/2 cup (120 ml) of chilled alcohol-free sparkling wine into each, followed by 1/4 cup (60 ml) of sparkling water. Pour slowly to preserve the bubbles and avoid overflowing a glass packed with ice.
Finish and serve (2 minutes). Stir each drink once or twice from the bottom upward, just enough to distribute the syrup without flattening the fizz. Add a lime wheel and a mint sprig to each glass, and serve right away while the drink is cold and sparkling.

Tips

Chill the bubbly ingredients first. Cold sparkling wine and water need less ice to stay refreshing, which helps the drink keep its flavor instead of becoming watery. If you have time, chill the serving glasses too, but it is not necessary for the recipe to work.
Be gentle when muddling. Pressing mint too hard can tear it into small bits and bring out a grassy or bitter taste. If you do not have a muddler, use a spoon and press the leaves against the side of the glass only a few times.
Adjust the syrup to the bottle you have. Elderflower cordial can range from delicately floral to quite sweet. Start with the listed amount, taste before adding the bubbles, and add more lime or a splash of sparkling water if the balance feels too sweet.
Check the label if avoiding all alcohol. Products sold as alcohol-free sparkling wine can have different labeling standards, and some may contain trace alcohol. For a strictly alcohol-free option, use sparkling water with a small splash of white grape juice; it will taste fruitier and less wine-like.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the mocktail in two large wine glasses or stemmed spritz glasses, ideally about 10 to 12 ounces (300 to 350 ml) each. The extra room lets you add ice and garnish without crowding the bubbles. A clear glass also shows off the pale drink, green mint, and lime wheel, but any sturdy glass works. Add the mint sprig just before serving so it looks fresh and gives off its aroma as you sip.

This floral, citrusy drink pairs well with light snacks such as salted nuts, olives, crisp vegetable sticks, or a mild cheese board. It is also a good match for brunch dishes and picnic food that are not heavily spiced. For a gathering, set out lime wheels and mint sprigs separately so guests can garnish their own glasses. Keep the fizzy ingredients chilled and pour each drink close to serving time rather than leaving finished glasses on a table.

Variations

Use sparkling grape juice. Replace the alcohol-free sparkling wine with sparkling white grape juice for a rounder, fruitier drink. Because grape juice is often sweeter, begin with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of elderflower syrup per glass instead of 2 tablespoons, then add more only after tasting. A squeeze of extra lime helps keep the sweetness in balance.

Make it less sweet. Use a dry alcohol-free sparkling wine, reduce the elderflower cordial to 1 tablespoon (15 ml) per glass, and keep the lime. You can add a little more sparkling water if you want a longer, lighter drink. Taste before adding any extra syrup: the bubbles and citrus make the floral flavor noticeable even with a smaller amount.

Add cucumber or berries. For a cucumber version, add 2 thin cucumber slices to each glass with the mint and press them gently once or twice. For a berry variation, add 2 or 3 raspberries per glass and lightly press them before adding ice. These additions change the flavor and color, so keep the lime and elderflower amounts steady at first, then adjust to taste.

Make a small pitcher. For 6 servings, combine 3/4 cup (180 ml) elderflower syrup and 1/4 cup (60 ml) lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 cups (720 ml) chilled alcohol-free sparkling wine and 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) sparkling water just before serving. Add mint leaves without crushing them, then pour over ice in individual glasses; adding ice to the pitcher can quickly dilute the batch.

Storage and Reheating

This mocktail is best assembled and served immediately because its sparkling ingredients lose fizz and the ice melts over time. If you need to prepare ahead, mix the elderflower syrup and lime juice in a covered container and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Refrigerate the mixture within 2 hours of preparing it, and keep the mint, sparkling wine, and sparkling water separate until serving. Add fresh mint and bubbles when you build each glass for the brightest flavor.

Leftover finished drinks can be covered and refrigerated, but they will be flatter and more diluted; use them within a day for the best flavor. Do not reheat this drink. If it has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours, discard it rather than saving it for later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is elderflower cordial, and is it the same as elderflower liqueur?

Elderflower cordial is a sweet, usually nonalcoholic syrup or concentrate made with elderflower flavor. Elderflower liqueur is an alcoholic spirit-based product, so it is not an equivalent choice for a mocktail. Look for cordial or syrup in the mixer section of a grocery store, or use a nonalcoholic elderflower syrup from a specialty shop.

Can I make this Hugo spritz mocktail without alcohol-free sparkling wine?

Yes. Use chilled sparkling water and add a small splash of white grape juice to bring in some fruitiness. Start with about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of juice per glass, then taste. The result will be lighter and less wine-like than the version made with alcohol-free sparkling wine, but the elderflower, lime, and mint still make a balanced spritz.

Can I make the drinks in advance for a party?

You can prepare the lime-and-elderflower mixture up to 24 hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. For the best texture, wait to add the mint, ice, sparkling wine, and water until guests are ready to drink. If you are serving several people, measure the chilled bubbly ingredients in advance, but combine them with the syrup only shortly before pouring.

How can I keep the drink from tasting too sweet?

Use a dry alcohol-free sparkling wine, begin with less cordial, and add lime juice a little at a time. Some elderflower syrups are much sweeter than others, and sparkling grape juice is generally sweeter still. Avoid trying to correct sweetness by adding extra mint; a little more lime or plain sparkling water changes the balance more effectively.

What can I use instead of fresh mint?

Fresh mint is part of the familiar Hugo-style flavor, so dried mint is not a good substitute in the glass. If you cannot find fresh leaves, leave it out and add a thin cucumber slice or an extra lime wheel for a fresh garnish. The drink will be less aromatic, but the elderflower and citrus will still provide its main flavor.

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