Hugo: The Alpine Spritz
Story and photos by Tom Weber

Here's a palate-pleasing Italian aperitivo (cocktail) to wrap your hand around that's already a big hit up in the South Tyrol and a serious rival to the more popular and classic Spritz Veneziano (Venetian Spritz).

It's called the Spritz Hugo (Spritz Ugo in Italian, pronounced OOH-goh). It's the preferred aperitivo – summer or winter – around the Dolomites. Refreshing and light, the Spritz Hugo has been high-altitude tested by respected baristas.

Germans and Austrians will no doubt disagree, but this aperitivo was created in 2005 by Italian barista Roland Gruber at the San Zeno Wine & Cocktail Bar in Naturno, where German is spoken and Italian understood.

Gruber jump-started the craze by mixing Prosecco sparkling wine, seltzer water, fresh mint leaves and lemon syrup, and casually called his creation the Hugo/Ugo, for no apparent reason.

He later twinked the recipe, dropping the lemon syrup and adding a syrup made from the flowers of an indigenous plant that thrives all across the European Alps – Elderberry. And, the real Spritz Hugo was born and continues to stand on the top rung of the ladder of popularity around bars, chalets and other watering holes that dot the landscape.

Elderberry – Sambucus Nigra (Latin), Sambuco Nero (Italian) – is the plant from whose flowers (Elderflowers) are transformed into Sciroppo di Sambuco, a syrupy-sweet cordial that is the key ingredient to a properly prepared Spritz Hugo.

Not to be mistaken with Sambuca – the strong, licorice-flavored, clear Italian liquor with the signature three coffee beans (mosquitos) floating in the glass – Sciroppo di Sambuco is bright yellow, very sweet and comes out thick, like a syrup should.

Very little of the Elderflower syrup is needed in the Spritz Hugo, just enough to let you know that it's in there. The Hugo is approximately 4/5 Prosecco and 1/5 Elderflower Syrup, a 4-to-1 ratio between the two primary liquids.

Care to make one? Great. Let's mosey on up to the virtual bar and get our hands a bit sticky using a fresh bottle of homemade Sciroppo di Sambuco from up in the Val Pusteria area of the Dolomites.

Step-1: Add ice cubes to the glass Step-2: Add the Prosecco Step-3: Add the Syrup Step-4: Splash in the Water Step-5: Garnish with Mint leaves and Lemon slice Step-6: Stir gently to mix fully

The Dolomite-tested Spritz Hugo. It's the low-octane, high-altitude Italian aperitivo (cocktail) preferred by skiers, snowboarders, hikers and trekkers alike. One sip will have you smiling and dreaming about a winter or summer vacation up in the mountains.

Please. Drink responsibly.

Cin Cin!