Guide
Binge drinking is so yesterday: this bittersweet mocktail is a must at every Christmas party
by Stefanie Lechthaler
How to make a refreshing Virgin Hugo for hot summer days
5-7-2025
Translation: Eva Francis
Pictures: Stefanie Lechthaler
Delicious, refreshing and alcohol-free. Here’s how to prepare a drink that you can enjoy before you finish work – thanks to sparkling wine without alcohol.
My ideal summer day? Jumping into cool water, sipping a drink and doing sweet nothing. But without the next-day hangover, please. That’s why I’ve mastered the art of mixing refreshing mocktails that are tasty and don’t make you tipsy. One of them is a Virgin Hugo with a twist.
This Virgin Hugo takes just a few minutes to make and is a minty and moreish summer classic. And because I like it as refreshing as it gets, I’ve upgraded the elderflower and prosecco classic with a dash of ginger syrup and kumquat slices.
Virgin Hugo ingredients
- Rimuss Secco (Bianco or Rosato)
- 1 tbsp elderflower syrup
- 1.5 tbsp ginger syrup
- 1 mint sprig
- Ice
Optional:
- Kumquat or other fruits or berries
Into the glass, then into my belly
Here’s how to prepare your Virgin Hugo: Start by cutting the kumquat into thin slices and pour the two syrups into a glass. If you use as much as I indicated, your drink will be quite sweet. Prefer a more sour drink? Then use less syrup. Now add the kumquat slices and ice to the glass and top up with non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Garnish your drink with a sprig of mint to make it smell and look extra nice.
Swap prosecco for Rimuss
The main ingredient in the original recipe is prosecco. I use Rimuss instead. Not the fizzy grape juice for kids, but the version for adults. The two sparkling wines Bianco and Rosato from the Rimuss Dry range are less sweet and aim to taste more like prosecco. They’re made of 30% grape juice and 40% dealcoholised wine.
Which non-alcoholic bubbly is better?
If you’ve been following this series of articles, you’ll know alcohol-free bubblies don’t taste like original prosecco. The same goes for Rimuss. Both the Bianco and Rosato wouldn’t be confused for prosecco in a blind tasting, that’s for sure. But they’re a really good alternative, especially chilled and combined with a mixer. Both have plenty of bubbles and aren’t too sweet.
The non-alcoholic sparkling wine Bianco reminds me of sour apple and light grapes, while the Rosato has a soft, berry fragrance. The Rosato in particular makes me think back to my childhood when we used to be allowed a glass of Rimuss Litchi-Perl – on very special occasions.
Kumq-what?!
Add some fruit or berries to your drink to make it look more fancy and exotic. In this recipe, I use kumquats (also known as Chinese oranges or Fortunella). They’re closely related to citrus fruits, but have a special feature: you can eat the whole thing, including the peel and seeds. Unlike oranges and lemons, kumquat seeds are soft and their peel is thin.
They have a bitter-sweet flavour and smell of ripe oranges. The flesh tastes slightly sour. All in all, they’re something between oranges and yuzu. When you bite into the fruit, the different flavours combine to create a fruity explosion in your mouth. The kumquat gives this Virgin Hugo an extra refreshing twist. The sweetness of the drink softens the fruit’s bitterness and leaves you with an exotic snack once you’ve finished your drink.
Source: Shutterstock / @fortton
Happy with water, iced tea and Rivella? Or what’s your go-to drink without alcohol? Let us know in the comments.
Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
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