Put away the Aperol and raise a glass to Hugo spritz, the drink of the summer

Created in Italy and made with elderflower liqueur, the cocktail is sweeter than Aperol spritz and lower in alcohol Pub gardens and bar terraces have been awash with a sea of orange in recent years as Italy’s love of Aperol spritz spread to the UK. But this year the cocktail’s cousin, a Hugo spritz, will be the drink of the summer, according to supermarkets and bars. It is already being served across the country, including at Sea Containers on the banks of the Thames and Mayfair’s swanky Claridge’s hotel in London, 20 Stories bar in Manchester and the Bridge Tavern in Newcastle. Wetherspoons has the cocktail on its menu nationwide. “In the past year, we have noted that there has been a wider shift among our guests towards drinks with lower alcohol percentages, particularly during the day – a Hugo spritz fits rather neatly into this space,” said George Raju, director of bars at Claridge’s. Created in Italy, and very popular in France, the Hugo is sweeter than an Aperol spritz and is made with elderflower liqueur such as St-Germain, prosecco, soda water and mint. The drink, created in 2005 by the Italian bartender Roland Gruber in South Tirol, Italy, was initially called an “Otto” sp