Hugo Royale

The Hugo Royale has a floral, citrusy, refreshing, herbaceous, effervescent flavor profile. An elevated twist on the beloved Austrian Hugo spritz, combining elderflower liqueur, fresh mint, and lime with premium Prosecco. This sophisticated aperitif brings alpine freshness to any occasion.

A Hugo Royale requires 7 ingredients: Prosecco, Elderflower liqueur, Fresh Lime Juice, Soda water, fresh mint leaves, Lime wheel, Fresh mint sprig.

A Hugo Royale takes about 3 minutes to prepare and is considered easy difficulty.

A Hugo Royale is traditionally served in a wine glass, garnished with fresh mint sprig and lime wheel.

Yes, you can make a mocktail version of the Hugo Royale by substituting the spirits with non-alcoholic alternatives such as seedlip, non-alcoholic distilled spirits, or flavored syrups and juices that mimic the original flavor profile.

The Hugo cocktail emerged in South Tyrol (Alto Adige) around 2005, created by bartender Roland Gruber as a lighter alternative to the ubiquitous Aperol Spritz. Named after either Gruber himself (Hugo was his nickname) or Saint Ulrich's patron saint, this refreshing aperitif quickly spread throughout Austria and northern Italy. The original Hugo combined Prosecco, elderflower syrup, soda water, mint, and lime—a perfect reflection of the region's Austrian-Italian cultural blend. The 'Royale' variation elevates this humble spritz by using elderflower liqueur instead of syrup and premium Prosecco, creating a more sophisticated flavor profile. What started as a local bartender's experiment has become a symbol of modern Alpine drinking culture, representing the region's ability to create something entirely new while honoring traditional ingredients. The cocktail's popularity exploded across German-speaking countries and has now found its way into cocktail bars worldwide, each adding their own royal touch to Gruber's refreshing creation.