Watermelon Rosé Hugo Spritz

It’s watermelon season! And I don’t think it’s an accident that watermelon season overlaps with rosé season because whenever I have one, I always want the other. Like in this Watermelon Rosé Hugo Spritz — a bright, floral, fruity, no-frills cocktail that celebrates the best parts of summer. Muddle everything together in a deli container and take it to-go, wherever that may be!

Watch Me Mix It

How to Make It

1. To a 32 oz. deli container, add the watermelon, mint leaves, quartered lemon, honey, and a pinch of flaky sea salt. Muddle until the watermelon is juicy and the honey has dissolved.
2. Add the elderflower liqueur, vodka, and rosé.
3. Fill the deli container with ice and top with a splash of sparkling water, if desired.
4. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a watermelon wedge, and serve straight from the deli container with a straw.

What is a Hugo Spritz?

The Hugo Spritz follows the 3:2:1 ratio of a more well-known Aperol Spritz but is a lighter, less boozy option. It’s made with 3 parts Prosecco + 2 parts Elderflower Liqueur + 1 part club soda. It’s usually garnished with a sprig of fresh mint and a lime wheel. For this Watermelon Rosé Hugo Spritz, I swapped the prosecco for rosé and added some vodka for a more of a spirit-forward flavor in equal measure with the elderflower liqueur. The watermelon, mint, honey, and lemon all get muddled together in a deli container to make this anytime classic cocktail into a portable summertime treat!

Watermelon Rosé Hugo Spritz Ingredients

Dry Rosé

Instead of the usual Prosecco in a classic Hugo Spritz, I wanted to pair the watermelon with a dry rosé. Avaline Rosé is one of my favorites! You could also swap the dry rosé for a sparkling rosé, Lambrusco, or a non-alcoholic rosé to make this cocktail low ABV without missing the same flavor!

Vodka

Vodka and watermelon is a great combo. The neutral spirit flavor (I only add 1 oz.) just adds a bit of brightness and zing that lifts up the other fresh flavors without being too overpowering. Check out my Vodka Guide for everything you need to to know, including bottles I recommend. You can leave out the vodka for a low ABV version or swap it for your favorite neutral spirit (try rum, tequila, or a milder gin).

Elderflower Liqueur

Elderflower liqueur is sweet and floral, making it the perfect liqueur to pair with both rosé and watermelon. I usually buy St. Germain.

Watermelon

Every summer, I eat as much watermelon as humanly possible. In this case, I drink as much watermelon as humanly possible. Watermelon is the perfect fruit for this recipe because it muddles really easily with the other ingredients in a deli container. If you don’t want seeds in your cocktail, get a seedless watermelon.

Mint

Mint is a traditional garnish in a Hugo Spritz, but for this riff, we’re muddling it in the cocktail with the other ingredients. You can easily grow mint in a pot or simply buy a fresh bunch at the store or farmer’s market. Swap it for basil instead, if you want!

Lemon

If it’s not fresh squeezed, we don’t want it!

Honey

Maple syrup, agave syrup, or a homemade simple syrup make good swaps for honey here.

Tips for Making the Best Watermelon Rosé Hugo Spritz

• Buy a small, seedless watermelon so you don’t get a bunch of seeds in your cocktail.
• As with other deli container cocktails, this one uses a simple, rustic muddling method where we don’t strain our cocktail into a smooth consistency. If you don’t like getting bits of watermelon or mint in each sip, you can strain it before adding to your deli container.
• If you’re a cocktails in the park (or beach or pool) kind of person, you have to get a set of these deli containers and the straw puncher that I use with it!
• This Watermelon Rosé Hugo Spritz is the perfect occasion for buying or using your favorite bottle of rosé. Look for one with “notes of watermelon” or other light summer berries/fruit on the label.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The perfect cocktail for a BYOB picnic or other outdoor gathering.
• A deli container cocktail is just so fun and chill and easy.
• No equipment, no straining, no blending, no fancy syrups, just a bunch of delicious ingredients muddled together on a hot day.

Hugo Spritz Variations

• For St. Patrick’s Day, try my Lucky Hugo Tonic with gin and cucumber juice instead of the rosé, vodka, and watermelon.
• For a more traditional Hugo Spritz with a fruity twist, try my Raspberry Hugo Spritz (also in a deli container!)
• If you love elderflower liqueur and want more cocktails that pair it with fruit, try the White Wine Elderflower Spritz, White Linen Pitcher Cocktail, and French Blonde.