Honey Deuce

What is Honey Deuce?

The Honey Deuce is one of the most culturally significant modern American cocktails of the past two decades, with a precisely documented origin tied to one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world: the US Open Tennis Championships. The cocktail was created in 2007 by Nick Mautone, a celebrated New York City bartender and consultant, who designed the drink specifically to be the official signature cocktail of the US Open held annually at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The drink's name comes from "deuce," the tennis scoring term used when both players have 40 points and the game is tied, requiring two consecutive points to win. The Honey Deuce has become one of the most successful signature event cocktails in sports history: by 2024, the US Open was selling over 460,000 Honey Deuces during the two-week tournament, generating over $12 million in annual revenue and making it one of the highest-grossing single cocktail sales events in the world. The drink's distinctive frozen honeydew melon balls were specifically designed to resemble tennis balls, creating an instantly recognizable visual identity that distinguishes the Honey Deuce from any other cocktail. Grey Goose vodka has been the official spirit sponsor since the cocktail's inception, and Chambord raspberry liqueur (with its iconic ornate bottle design) provides the signature pink color and berry character.

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Taste profile

The Honey Deuce is bright, refreshingly tart, and elegantly balanced with a flavor profile that genuinely captures the summer tennis-watching aesthetic the drink was designed around. Lemonade leads the palate with its dominant sweet-tart citrus character, providing both the structural foundation and the refreshing quality that makes the cocktail genuinely thirst-quenching during hot summer afternoons. The lemonade's bright lemon-and-sugar combination is what distinguishes the Honey Deuce from heavier vodka cocktails and makes it accessible to a broad audience including tennis fans who don't typically order craft cocktails. Vodka contributes the alcoholic backbone without imposing flavor, allowing the lemonade and raspberry liqueur to define the cocktail's character. Premium vodka like Grey Goose (the official US Open partner) provides a clean spirit foundation that elevates the cocktail beyond a casual mixed drink. Chambord raspberry liqueur is the transformative ingredient that defines the Honey Deuce's identity: its concentrated black raspberry richness adds the signature pink color and complex berry undertones that elevate the lemonade considerably beyond a simple vodka lemonade. The frozen honeydew melon balls contribute subtle melon sweetness as they slowly thaw during drinking, gradually enriching the flavor profile and serving as a slow-release flavor element. The combined flavor drinks like a sophisticated summer pink lemonade with berry depth.

Serving suggestions

The frozen honeydew melon balls are the absolute defining visual element of this cocktail and worth executing carefully. Use a melon baller to scoop perfectly round balls from a fresh ripe honeydew melon (look for melons with creamy yellow skin and a slight floral aroma, which indicates ripeness), then freeze them for at least 1 hour, ideally overnight. Three frozen balls skewered on a long bamboo or wooden cocktail pick is the classic US Open presentation that mimics three tennis balls. Use Grey Goose vodka for the most authentic and "official" US Open Honey Deuce experience, though any quality vodka such as Tito's, Ketel One, or Belvedere produces excellent results. Authentic Chambord is genuinely worth seeking out: while other raspberry liqueurs like raspberry schnapps can substitute, Chambord's complex black raspberry and blackcurrant character with subtle floral undertones produces a noticeably more sophisticated result. Fresh-squeezed lemonade made from real lemons produces the best flavor, though Newman's Own Old Fashioned Roadside Virginia Style Lemonade is a quality bottled option used at many tennis viewing parties. Serve in a tall highball or Collins glass over plenty of fresh ice. For an authentic US Open experience, use a Grey Goose-branded glass if available. Perfect for tennis watching parties, summer entertaining, and warm-weather brunch service.

Why You'll Love It?

Ingredients for Honey Deuce

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Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Freeze honeydew melon balls for at least 1 hour.
2. In a highball glass with fresh ice add vodka and raspberry liqueur.
3. Pour in the lemonade and stir gently until chilled and combined.
4. Skewer the frozen honeydew melon balls on a cocktail pick and place the garnish across the rim or into the drink.