Spritz Hugo, elderflower cocktail: the refreshing summer aperitif.

When summer approaches, the days are already quite long and the heat begins to be felt, what could be better than a refreshing, thirst-quenching, and perhaps a bit aromatic evening aperitif? The Spritz Hugo is just what we need! A true concentrate of freshness, the Hugo is defined as a Spritz, but in reality, it is a proper elderflower cocktail that, due to its lightness, has been included in the list of aperitifs.

Spritz Hugo: Prosecco and Elderflower Syrup

The Hugo is nothing more than a flavoring of Prosecco with mint leaves and elderflower syrup, but this practice is certainly not new. For a long time, wine has been flavored, such as Malvasia or Moscato, with fruits like strawberries, peaches, and berries. In South Tyrol, in the valleys of the Dolomites, the habit was established long ago, in May and June, of gathering elderflowers to make syrup. Elderflowers, water, lemon, and sugar are the ingredients of this delicious and sweet nectar: all natural elements born in unspoiled areas, mixed with care and allowed to rest without rushing. Moreover, it is a very refreshing and rejuvenating nectar, perfect to accompany even the younger age groups: the South Tyrolean ancestors taught that it was usually diluted in water for the little ones and in wine for the adults.

Thus, the South Tyrolean bartender Roland Gruber, at the beginning of the 21st century, had the brilliant idea of using first the lemon balm syrup and then, due to the difficulty in sourcing this product, the traditional elderflower syrup to flavor the classic glass of Prosecco along with mint. Lemon balm syrup is a rather rare elixir, also used as the main ingredient in major liqueurs such as Arquebuse and Chartreuse. In South Tyrol, it is produced in very small quantities, practically only at a household level, and for this reason, Gruber replaced it with the equally good elderflower syrup, reviving the local tradition that wanted it as the flavoring ingredient of wine.

Spritz Hugo: Here’s the modern recipe

The Spritz Hugo is a very simple to prepare aperitif. Here are the ingredients for one glass: 15 cl of Prosecco, 2 cl of elderflower syrup (or lemon balm), a splash of soda, 2 mint leaves, 1 slice of lemon or lime, or a slice of green apple. Preparation method: chill a glass, then add the elderflower syrup and a few ice cubes; pour in the wine and add the mint; top up with sparkling water and stir gently; garnish with a slice of lemon.

An aperitif that, with all due respect to the classic Aperol Spritz, is the true king of summer as far as freshness is concerned; and furthermore, it can be paired with various dishes. Let us give you more than one example: fish, cured meats, white meats and spicy foods, Margherita pizza, flatbread filled with salmon and buffalo mozzarella, pasta with pesto, Cantonese rice, Cheddar and jalapeno stuffed hot dogs, mixed paella.

To make the Spritz Hugo, you need elderflower syrup

The elderflower syrup, a fundamental ingredient for making the Spritz Hugo, is quite widespread in northern Italy, but in the rest of the Peninsula, it is not easy to find: we at Spaghetti & Mandolino provide it in a organic version! What more could you want? Oh right, we also have the award-winning Prosecco of course.

Cheers!