Hugo Spritz Summer Is Here — So I Had to Add a Little Smoke

Every summer seems to have that drink.

The cocktail you suddenly see on patios, at brunch, all over social media, and in your friends’ hands when everybody finally manages to get together.

This summer, I think that drink is the Hugo Spritz.

So naturally, I had to try one.

Then I had another thought:

What happens if I smoke it?

First, What Exactly Is a Hugo Spritz?

If an Aperol Spritz is bold, bittersweet and orange, I’d describe the Hugo Spritz as its lighter, greener cousin.

It’s crisp. Floral. Bubbly. Refreshing.

A traditional Hugo combines Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, sparkling water, fresh mint and lime, usually served over plenty of ice in a wine glass.

There’s nothing complicated about it—and I think that’s part of why it works so well when friends are getting together.

Nobody wants to spend the whole night behind the bar measuring 12 ingredients.

You want to pour something good, hand somebody a glass, turn the music up and enjoy yourself.

My Easy Hugo Spritz

For one drink, I use:

1 oz elderflower liqueur
3 oz Prosecco
1 oz sparkling or soda water
Fresh mint
Fresh lime
Ice

Fill a large wine glass with ice, add the elderflower liqueur and Prosecco, top with sparkling water and gently stir.

Add a few mint leaves and fresh lime.

That’s it.

Cold, bubbly and ridiculously easy to drink on a hot summer afternoon.

But you already know I wasn't going to leave it there.

So I Made a Smoked Hugo Spritz

This is where things got interesting.

When most people think about smoked cocktails, their mind immediately goes to whiskey.

Old Fashioned. Manhattan. Bourbon. Dark glass. Big ice cube. Heavy smoke.

I love all of that—but I wanted to see what smoke could do to something completely different.

The Hugo Spritz is bright and floral, so instead of hitting it with a heavy smoke, I went in the opposite direction.

Just enough smoke to make you stop and ask, “Wait…what is that?”

The Smoked Hugo Spritz

Make the Hugo Spritz normally.

Then add a light layer of smoke using apple or cherry wood chips.

I especially like apple here because I don’t want the smoke overpowering the elderflower, mint and lime.

Cover the glass with the cocktail smoker, add the smoke, and give it a little time to mingle with the drink.

Then comes my favorite part.

The reveal.

Lift the smoker and watch the smoke roll off that bright, bubbly cocktail.

Before anybody even tastes it, the drink has already become part of the night.

And that's really the point.

It’s Not Just About the Cocktail

I think that's why drinks like the Hugo Spritz are having such a moment.

Picture this.

It’s Saturday afternoon.

Music is playing.

Food is on the table.

A few friends are over.

Someone is making cocktails while everyone else is standing around the kitchen island talking and laughing.

Then you pull out the torch.

Suddenly everybody is watching.

Someone takes their phone out.

Someone asks, “What are you doing?”

And five minutes later everybody wants their drink smoked.

That is what I love about cocktails at home.

The drink gives people something to gather around.

You don't need a reservation.

You don't need a special occasion.

And you definitely don't need to be a bartender.

Sometimes you just need ice, a few ingredients and the people you actually want to spend your evening with.

Make It a Hugo Spritz Night

Here’s something I really want to try this summer:

Invite a few friends over and make the Hugo the starting point rather than the entire menu.

Set out Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, mint, lime, sparkling water and plenty of ice.

Then add different fruits and herbs.

Strawberry.

Cucumber.

Peach.

Blackberry.

Rosemary.

Maybe even jalapeño for the person who insists everything needs to be spicy.

Then bring out a few different wood-chip flavors and let everybody build their own version.

You could even do a blind tasting:

Classic Hugo vs. Smoked Hugo.

Personally?

I think I already know which one I'm choosing.

Summer Doesn't Need to Be Complicated

I think sometimes we try too hard to create the perfect summer night.

Perfect restaurant.

Perfect outfit.

Perfect plans.

But some of my favorite moments are much simpler than that.

A couple of bottles.

Something good to eat.

Music.

Friends.

And a cocktail nobody was expecting.

So yes—the Hugo Spritz deserves its summer moment.

But before you hand me mine…

Pass me the smoker!