Summer may have officially ended for Syracuse students, but that doesn’t mean our warm weather festivities have come to a halt. With just a few more weeks of this scorching hot weather, enjoy the Hugo, a refreshing, bubbly cocktail perfect for keeping you cool.

The Hugo is a mixture of Prosecco, Elderflower liquor, club soda, lime juice and mint leaves, a combination that is fresh and satisfying.

Before even taking a sip, I took in a whiff of a sweet and flowery scent. The sweetness is due to the Elderflower, a thick and syrupy liquor that smells almost like an alcoholic version of gardenia or hibiscus extract. As I got past the initial scent, I noticed the smell of freshly squeezed lime juice and a hint of mint, almost like a mojito.

The taste of the Hugo is similar to a mojito because of the muddled mint leaves and the fresh lime juice. However, the drink itself is different from a mojito because the base of the Hugo is Prosecco, a dry sparkling wine similar to champagne, rather than white rum.

With my first sip of The Hugo, I immediately took note of the fresh lime juice, which complements the hint of citrus, and flowers found in Prosecco. The sweet syrupy Elderflower liquor hit next, catching my attention by pulling my taste buds to a sweet candy-like place.

However, this drink isn’t entirely too sweet. The invigorating taste of the mint and club soda washed away any sweetness left by the Elderflower, leaving me with a clean and refreshing aftertaste.

The Hugo is an apéritif, which is an alcoholic beverage often served before meals. Since the drink is native to Europe, it may be difficult to order one at a local bar. Luckily, one of the best parts of the Hugo is how simple it is to make.

Directions:

Start out with a few ice cubes in a large wine glass. Pour in roughly two parts Prosecco, one part Elderflower liquor — St. Germaine is most commonly used, but you can find cheaper versions with a little bit of searching. Add two parts club soda, the juice of half a lime, muddle up some mint leaves to release the aroma, drop them in the glass and swirl it around to create the perfect apéritif.

The Hugo can range in color depending on the amount of club soda you add. If you like your drinks strong, you can opt out of adding club soda and the drink will be a dark champagne color. I personally prefer them diluted, making the drink clear with a hint of champagne color.

Published on August 31, 2016 at 9:31 pm