Spritz Girl Summer Is Approaching: Here’s the Drink Everyone Will Be Ordering

Dipping into the Mediterranean, traversing ancient cobblestone streets and twirling tagliatelle onto our forks—visions of an Italian vacation are looping in our minds as summer nears. If, like us, sunbathing at a cafe overlooking the Alps isn’t on the agenda this year, you can arrive there by way of aperitivo (and a Stanley Tucci episode). The latest sipper to sweep Italy and its neighboring countries is the Hugo spritz, a delicate and refreshing mixture of elderflower, mint and citrus.

Like all good trends we’ve discovered this year, we heard about the Hugo on TikTok. “There is no reason you all should be buying an Aperol spritz when the Hugo spritz exists, period,” declared user @arjunmanjunath_, targeting fans of the fizzy orange beverage. What makes the Hugo so delightful? Prepare your stemmed glassware and read on. 

The Hugo spritz hails from Naturo, an idyllic alpine town nestled along the Italian-Austrian border. And while it’s currently one of the most sought-after summer drinks in Europe, the crisp cocktail isn’t a new invention. According to Mixology magazine, South Tyrol-based bartender Roland Gruber dreamed up the concoction in 2005 by marrying Prosecco, lemon balm syrup and mint leaves. Lemon balm, a sweet citrus-y herb, was later traded with elderflower in the recipe. And since elderberry plants aren’t always abundant, mixologists are reaching for elderflower liqueur instead. 

In Italy, “every second cocktail that isn’t an Aperol spritz is a Hugo,” says bartender and TikTok creator @theeducatedbarfly. Compared with its zippy Aperol cousin, the Hugo lacks bitterness and contains a lower alcohol volume. The expert says its sweet botanical notes play well against the dry bubbly, making it the perfect pre-dinner drink (to be paired with antipasti, of course).