TikTok’s latest cocktail craze is here, and we’re celebrating National Spritz with the experts by making the summer’s most popular drink: the Hugo Spritz. The cocktail is made with prosecco and St. Germain, a French liqueur that’s made with up to 1,000 fresh, handpicked and wild elderflower blossoms. It’s the Italian cousin of the classic St. Germain Spritz and infuses the flavours of mint and lime to create the perfect warm weather taste.

How to make St. Germain Hugo Spritz’s recipe

St. Germain’s summer drink recipe involves elderflower liqueur, soda water and prosecco. To make it, grab a wine glass and pour some ice into it. Then, add 40 millilitres of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur and add approximately eight mint leaves. Top it with 60 millilitres each of both prosecco (we recommend Martini) and soda water. Stir the drink to combine all of the ingredients and then garnish it with a mint sprig and a lime wedge. Voila! A luxurious cocktail for the summer months.

For fans of the Aperol Spritz

For fans of a traditional Aperol Spritz, several popular eateries (and patios!) are offering up the Italian cocktail on National Spritz Day and beyond. Restaurants like Eataly offer their own renditions, but cheese master Afrim Pristine from The Cheese Boutique offers his perfect pairing: an Aperol Spritz with a custom aperitivo brunch board.

To make an Aperol Spritz, fill a stemmed wine glass with ice, pour 3 ounces of prosecco, followed by 2 ounces of Aperol and a splash of soda water. Gently stir all of the ingredients to combine them, garnish the cocktail with an orange slice and serve it.

Here are Afrim Pristine’s tips for an aperitivo board that pairs with an Aperol Spritz:

Assemble based on the season. When building your board, opt for different textures and ingredients that are seasonally available. When the season changes, so should what you select for your brunch board. As guests are consuming the board, it should feel as if they are travelling on a delicious journey through a variety of seasonal flavour profiles.
Know your guests. Are you hosting meat lovers or sweet tooths? Factor their palates into your decision when assembling your board. You could create a board focused on classic Italian charcuterie with cured meats, cheeses and olives or opt for something sweeter with pastries, fruit, and freshly baked goods.
Focus on quality over quantity. Less is more! You don’t need 15 different ingredients on a brunch board to make a statement. Focus on fewer, higher-quality items and your guests will still be impressed.
Don’t forget your drink pairing. Enjoy a beautiful, refreshing drink like an aperitif with your brunch board. My go-to is an Aperol Spritz because it’s simple to make, and pairs well with so many flavours. It will also look great sitting on a table next to any type of brunch board with its iconic bright orange hue, ice cubes and orange slice.
Make it visual. We live in a social media world where aesthetics matter. When hosting your next brunch get-together, the board can also serve as Instagram-worthy décor. Simply placing beautiful ingredients on brunch boards can be visually impactful and allows the food to be the star of the show.

Or, try the Lillet Rosé Spritz

For fans of a classic rosé drinks, even the wine can be turned into a spritz with a little help from Lillet, a French aperitif. Use three ounces each of Lillet Rosé and soda water and shake it with ice. Strain the creation into a white wine glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish it with either slice of grapefruit and/or an orange, and enjoy.

Erica Commisso

Erica Commisso is falling in love with the city of Toronto again, after returning from a stint in New York City. Her interests cover everything from hockey to fashion to music to classic literature and everything in between. If there’s something to be learned, Erica needs to know everything there is to know about it. You can catch her out for dinner in some trendy hotspots or on her couch during game nights cheering for the Colorado Avalanche as if they can hear her through the TV.