Olivia Palermo
Olivia Palermo models for GRAZIA in the summer of 2018 in New York City. Photography: Jeremy Choh

Most people are drinking more now that they work from home.

The Australian National University released the results from a country-wide survey on June 10 that found people are drinking more frequently during the pandemic than in the three years prior. And according to this report in the Seattle Times, Americans have been stockpiling spirits like tequila and gin with sales jumping 75% compared to March 2019.

The figures aren’t surprising. As there is no mandated knock-off time – no boss, no commute – something must mark the grand hour that is finishing work for the day. If I’m not headed to a restaurant, I wind down with a glass of red and some olives and it’s a little ritual I look forward to during my days of writing to you, even if I never use to drink during the week pre-pandemic.

I recently, however, stumbled across past GRAZIA cover woman Olivia Palermo’s delicious take on a Prosecco classic, The Hugo. The mix of Italian Prosecco, elderflower and mint really was the ‘it’ spritz in Europe a couple of years ago, a pre-coronavirus era of pebbled sands, daybeds and SPF. While I’m experiencing winter in Australia right now, this tall sparkling glass whisks me away to somewhere sunny.

A couple of nights ago, Palermo posted a video of her making this little drink and I was going to wait until Friday to share. But in the WFH spirit, we need to bookend our days with something, even if it’s a Wednesday.

Olivia Palermo
Credit: Instagram / @oliviapalermo

Below, you’ll find Palermo’s recipe to decorate your happy hour. Extra points if you serve with hydrangeas.

Cheers to you getting through some hard days.

SEE: Olivia Palermo’s GRAZIA cover shoot in New York City

Ingredients:
3 oz/90ml chilled prosecco
1 oz/30ml passionfruit juice
0.50 oz/15ml St. Germain
10 fresh slices of cucumber
Club soda or sparkling water (to fill)
5 mint sprigs

Steps:
Add passionfruit juice, St. Germain, and the club soda into a wine glass and fill with ice.
Place the fresh cucumber slices inside the glass and top with Prosecco.
Garnish with mint sprigs.