Hugo: elderflower+prosecco=cocktail

/ June 5, 2015
Hugo 3

I absolutely loved this photograph – check out how it was taken by clicking on it!

May and June is the season for elderflowers here in England, and the trees with their delicate white flowers and their intense scent are everywhere. Once I see them, my urge to forage is woken and I have to get my hands on a few of these ‘freebies’. Last year I shared a recipe for elderflower pancakes with you, where the flower cups are dunked into a batter and fried, to wonderful effect. But it is the elderflower cordial that is most keenly awaited now, and the flowers are steeping in the fridge for a few days, as I will need the end result to make one of the most delicious summer drinks: Hugo. Now, I am the first one to admit that the name ‘Hugo’ might not be exactly an advertiser’s dream, and I can’t even tell you why this refreshing and aromatic mix of elderflower cordial and prosecco is even called that. My cousin’s grandfather’s first name had been Hugo, and he had been quite aware that this wasn’t the most fashionable boy’s name, ever. He used to get quite excited when he came across a fellow Hugo, especially if it wasn’t in an obituary. At the sight of the latter he’d always sigh, and mutter something about a dying race… The drink Hugo comes from South Tyrol, the northernmost provinces of Italy. Here many people still speak German as their first language, due to the fact that the region was part of Austria until the reorganisation of Europe following World War II. I have to admit I had no idea about this when I first went there, as a student (history clearly wasn’t really my thing …) and I was rather surprised by the fact that everybody spoke German and served what I could only describe as ‘German’ food – Spätzle, Flädle, the lot- rather than the pasta and pizza dishes I had been expecting! South Tyrol is an amazingly beautiful place, espcecially when you are arriving from Switzerland: often it is raining and cold on the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel, and after just under ten minutes you arrive at the other side in warm and sunny Italy: the same mountains, but clearly different skies! Check out the beautiful pictures Rowena posted on Apron and Sneakers: her Hugo recipe comes with a full tour of South Tyrol, whereas I can only show you my elderflower cordial, this year’s first batch:Elderflower cordial steeping Blue skies are essential to a successful Hugo, as are elderflower cordial, prosecco or cava, and a sprig of mint. Sparkling water or soda water keep its alcohol levels low, and a slice of lime makes this an Alpine mojito, if you like. At any rate, as it’s one of the most popular summer cocktails in Germany, the country that still loves David Hasselhoff and Lederhosen. So you can’t go wrong with a glass of Hugo …Hugo

Hugo (per serving)

  • a few leaves of fresh mint
  • 2 tsp elderflower cordial
  • 100ml sparkling wine
  • 100ml sparking water, to taste
  • a slice of lime (optional)
  • some ice

Using a wine glass, squeeze the mint leaves a little before adding the elderflower cordial and a little dash of the lime, if you’re using it. Add the ice and the sparkling wine, the sparking water. Serve with summer approaching, or in full swing!Hugo perfect The perfect drink to bring along to Angie’s, for this week’s Fiesta Friday blog party. If you haven’t been there, check it out: simply pop over, and if you like it, link your own post! It’s a wonderful way to meet people (last week a few of us even managed to meet up for real!) and to explore new dishes, cakes and ideas. Angie is helped this week by the wonderful Laurie @ ten.times.tea andJhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook, who co-host the event.  Happy Fiesta Friday, everyone!

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37 thoughts on “Hugo: elderflower+prosecco=cocktail”

    • They’re everywhere! At least here in London … I absolutely love the homemade cordial, it’s so easy, and so much better than anything you can buy!

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  5. What a refreshingly delicious drink Ginger! I have come across these elderflowers being used in recipes a lot this summer. Have to find these here in States.
    It’s always wonderful to experiment something with forage in Kitchen.
    Gorgeous!

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    • Ha ha, loved the videos! I have some elderflower champagen/wine on the go but was a bit worried about posting about it just yet – 6 weeks my recipe tells me to wait before it is ready! I did go to buy some plastic bottles after watching that last video though … 😉

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    • Thank you for visiting, Jhuls! The scent is so intense, and it translates into a wonderful taste, too, when you use if to make cordial or even wine! Happy FF!

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  9. I love this! Elderflower is one of my favourite cordial, I am making this soon for sure 🙂 Sounds very refreshing

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  11. This sounds like such a lovely cocktail and looks so refreshing (beautiful photos!)! I’m not sure if I’ve seen any elderflower bushes, but we do have an awful lot of lilacs in bloom throughout the city right now…I saw a lilac syrup on Kitchen Spell’s blog so perhaps I may try something similar to that! 🙂

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    • If you’ve got lilacs, chances are you’ve got elderflowers, too. I must check out the lylac syrup, though, although our lilacs have finished flowering already. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!

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    • It should last for quite a while, it’s delicious with sparkling water, too (which explains why it doesn’t last very long here in our house, I’m afraid …)

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  15. I made an amazing elderflower drink last year for the first time so shall be trying it again and combining it to make this, amazing photography and thanks for the share of the recipe etc, i re blogged this on to my photo blog by mistake instead of eclectic lol, but still greawt photogrpahy too to share hehe x

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