One of my best friends, Jasmin, is in town visiting from Zurich this week! (and next week- yay!) As I think I’ve mentioned before on this blog, Jas is a bit of a travel junkie. Jasmin works just so she can travel, it’s the driving force in her life.
In typical travel junkie fashion, Jasmin collects immunizations, passport stamps and now- passports! As of last week, our dear Jas is officially a Canadian and Swiss. 🙂
Jasmin is a wonderful house-guest to have because she is fiercely independent. I don’t have to feel guilty about having to spend hours at the office while she’s here because she will pack her days full of enviable adventures regardless of my sporadic commitments. Case in point: as I write this, her and my mum are driving to Squamish to do some epic hike, followed by a tour of the best Persian grocery stores the North Shore has to offer.
Since I do have to spend a fair deal of time at the office, Jasmin and I make sure we spend good quality time together over the evenings and weekends (and lunch hours and coffee breaks…). Of course, this has to include good food and drink.
Fresh pasta, veal saltimbocca, local salmon… Last weekend Jas introduced me to the Aperol Spritz (finally! I know I’m like years overdue.) Amazing. Such a hit.
Yesterday, it was The Hugo.
The what now?
Yeah, I’m a silly North American. Apparently The Hugo is The IT Drink in Europe this summer.
Thankfully, I just happened to have all the ingredients for said drink at my house. A bottle of Italian Prosecco left over from our Aperol adventure, fresh mint from the garden and… the secret ingredient.
Yep, that’s from IKEA.
I’ve long been a fan of IKEA’s elderflower concentrate. Mixed with a little sparkling water, it becomes a quick and delicious sipper, comparable to those (rather pricey) Elderflower Presse bottles you find at Whole Foods.
Well, let me tell you… no wonder this drink is such a hit, it really is the perfect summer aperitif. Deeeeeeply refreshing.
Some people top their Hugo with a splash of sparkling water- feel free to do that if you wish, I personally don’t find it adds much. If the sparkling wine is toasty and not sweet, I find it’s refreshing enough on it’s own, and I don’t like diluting the flavours. To each their own, however- it certainly doesn’t hurt to get an extra splash of water on a hot day here and there.
The elderflower concentrate is sweet, but we’re not using much of it. I find this cocktail is a real hit with people who love wine and people who are still on the fence about it- just wine-y enough to satisfy people like me and Chelsea, not so wine-y as to deter the Palm Bay fans (Denise, I’m looking at you, this drink has your name written all over it, my sweet!)
Add just enough lemon to bump the acidity on your palette plus a sprinkle of lightly muddled mint- both classic ‘refreshing’ flavours… my goodness.
Not to say I’m counting the minutes until 5pm but… well…
| The Hugo: Prosecco, Elderflower & Mint | | Print |
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint
- 1 part IKEA Elderflower concentrate
- 3 parts Italian Prosecco or any brut sparkling wine (non-sweet)
- 1 wedge of lemon or lime, squeezed
- Place ice cubes in a large wine glass. Gently muddle the mint, either using a pestle or your (clean) fingertips. Add to the glass(es) along with the juice from one lemon wedge.
- Add 1 part elderflower concentrate followed up 3 parts Prosecco. Enjoy!!
I think the genuine article is with elderflower liqueur (such as St. Germain) but this version sounds very refreshing.
Kathleen Mc x
I’m in a greek bar in Berlin and my wife is flooring the stuff as if there was no tomorrow. I had a taste and it’s the bee’s knees!
Haha! Excellent comment. From personal experience I would have to agree, these are preeeeetty slippery 🙂
So glad to see that I can find the concentrate at Ikea! I had a Hugo for the first time in Florence last week, and it was amazing. Thanks for the recipe so I can live like I’m in Europe all the time! And FYI, we totally were having spritzes there with lunch lol. No need to wait until 5pm.
Living vicariously through you, Kaelin! I’m so envious you got to try these in Europe! Definitely hit up an IKEA, close your eyes and picture yourself on that patio in Florence (all winter long! haha)