Hugo Spritz

♥ ★☆☆☆☆
Prep: 5 minutes Cook: None Serves: 1 cocktail Origin: Contemporary

Ingredients

  • 4 oz chilled Prosecco4 oz chilled Prosecco
  • 1.5 to 2 oz elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain) or elderflower syrup1.5 to 2 oz elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain) or elderflower syrup
  • 1 oz club soda or sparkling water1 oz club soda or sparkling water
  • 8 to 10 fresh mint leaves8 to 10 fresh mint leaves
  • Ice cubesIce cubes
  • Garnish: lime wheel or lemon wheel and mint sprigGarnish: lime wheel or lemon wheel and mint sprig

Instructions

  1. 1. Place the fresh mint leaves in the bottom of a large wine glass. Gently press or muddle them with a spoon to release the oils, taking care not to shred the leaves into tiny bits.
  2. 2. Fill the wine glass completely with ice cubes so the drink stays cold and well-chilled.
  3. 3. Pour in the elderflower liqueur or syrup, followed by the chilled Prosecco and the club soda.
  4. 4. Stir gently from the bottom up to combine. Garnish with a lime or lemon wheel and an extra sprig of mint.
Invented in 2005 by bartender Roland Gruber in Naturns, South Tyrol, originally with lemon balm syrup; elderflower became the standard. • Add sparkling water to taste — a longer pour of soda makes the drink less sweet and stretches it out. • Runs richer on the elderflower than a strict 3-2-1 spritz: 4 oz Prosecco to 1.5–2 oz liqueur. Start at 1.5 oz and adjust up. • Muddle the mint gently; shredding it turns the drink bitter and leaves flecks in the glass. • Pour the liqueur before the Prosecco so the syrup doesn't sit on the bottom, and keep the Prosecco cold to preserve the bubbles.