A big wine glass, lots of ice, the scent of elderflower and fresh mint rising with the bubbles. Light, floral and just sweet enough, it is the drink German-speaking beer gardens and terraces reach for on hot afternoons.
¾ oz
elderflower syrup
6 leaves
mint leaves
2 slice
lime
4 oz
alcohol-free sparkling wine well chilled
1¼ oz
soda water
Garnish: Mint sprig and lime wheel · Ice: Ice cubes
Virgin Hugo
Floral and fresh: elderflower sweetness, cool mint and a tart hint of lime, with fine bubbles. Light and very easy to drink.
The Hugo is a young drink. It is usually credited to Roland Gruber, a bartender in Naturns in South Tyrol, who is said to have created it around 2005 as an alternative to the Aperol Spritz. The original recipe reportedly used lemon balm syrup; elderflower syrup soon replaced it and became the standard.
Within a few years the Hugo spread across the Alps and into Germany and Austria, where it became one of the most popular summer drinks. Because its flavour comes mainly from elderflower, mint and lime, it adapts easily: with alcohol-free sparkling wine it keeps almost all of its character, and the virgin version is now offered in many bars and cafés in German-speaking countries.
It is usually credited to Roland Gruber, a bartender in Naturns, South Tyrol, around 2005.
Most contain less than 0.5 percent alcohol, which counts as alcohol-free in many countries. For zero alcohol, use only soda water.
Yes. Cordial and syrup are used the same way; adjust the amount to taste as sweetness varies by brand.
The perfect sound
Elderflower freshness from a mountain meadow.
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