If you've ever watched the US Open on TV or scrolled tennis TikTok in late August, you've seen it: a tall, blush-pink cocktail with three little green melon balls skewered on top, held up in front of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. That drink is the Honey Deuce, and it has quietly become one of the most famous cocktails in all of sports.
So what is a Honey Deuce, exactly? Here's the short answer, then the full story.
What Is a Honey Deuce? (Quick Answer)
A Honey Deuce is the official signature cocktail of the US Open tennis tournament, made with Grey Goose vodka, fresh lemonade, and Chambord raspberry liqueur, garnished with three honeydew melon balls that look like tiny tennis balls. It was created in 2006 by mixologist Nick Mautone and has been served at the US Open at Flushing Meadows every year since 2007. In 2025, a Honey Deuce at the US Open cost $23 and came in a commemorative souvenir cup.
That's the tweet-length version. If you're here because you want to actually understand the drink, the history, the recipe, why tennis fans obsess over it, and how to make one at home, keep reading.
And if you're really feeling the pull, we made a collection of limited-edition hats and visors inspired by the little "honey".
The Meaning Behind the Name "Honey Deuce"
The name is a tennis pun, and once you hear it, you can't unhear it.
"Honey" refers to the honeydew melon garnish: three small melon balls skewered on a cocktail pick. "Deuce" is the tennis term for a tied score at 40-40; when a game reaches deuce, a player must win two consecutive points to take the game. Put them together and you get "Honey Deuce," a wink at both the ingredient and the sport. The melon balls themselves are the visual joke: three fuzzy-looking green orbs that mimic the shape and color of tennis balls, perched right on the rim of the glass.
Who Invented the Honey Deuce?
The Honey Deuce was created in 2006 by Nick Mautone, a respected New York restaurateur and former managing partner at Gramercy Tavern. Grey Goose, the official vodka sponsor of the US Open, asked Mautone to invent a signature drink for the tournament that was refreshing, memorable, and, critically, easy to produce at high volume for stadium crowds.
The origin story is charming. Mautone has said the idea hit him at a farm stand in Hampton Bays, New York, where he was picking up ingredients for a summer dessert salad that included honeydew melon balls, blackberries, a rosemary-citrus syrup, and a splash of vodka. As he was scooping the melon, he realized the little green balls looked exactly like tennis balls, and that was the moment the garnish, and the cocktail, was born.
The Honey Deuce officially debuted at the US Open in 2007.
What's in a Honey Deuce? The Official Ingredients
The classic Honey Deuce is a remarkably simple four-ingredient cocktail. The official recipe, as served at the US Open, includes:
- Grey Goose vodka: the sponsor's flagship product and the base spirit
- Fresh lemonade: the bulk of the drink, providing tart-sweet balance
- Chambord (raspberry liqueur): floated on top, giving the cocktail its signature pink blush color
- Three honeydew melon balls: the tennis-ball garnish, skewered on a pick
That's it. No shakers, no muddling, no complicated technique. It's built directly in the glass, which is exactly why it can be served to hundreds of thousands of fans over the tournament's two weeks.
How to Make a Honey Deuce at Home (Recipe)
Here's the standard home version of the Honey Deuce cocktail:
Ingredients (single serving)
- 1.5 oz Grey Goose vodka (or any premium vodka)
- 3 oz fresh lemonade
- 0.5 oz Chambord or another raspberry liqueur
- 3 honeydew melon balls, for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Fill a tall highball or Collins glass with ice.
- Pour in the vodka and lemonade. Stir gently.
- Float the Chambord on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a bar spoon; this creates the signature pink gradient.
- Skewer three honeydew melon balls on a cocktail pick and rest across the rim.
- Serve immediately.
Pro tip: Use a small melon baller to get the classic tennis-ball shape. If your honeydew is ripe, the fruit should smell fragrant and give slightly when pressed. A rock-hard, deep-green honeydew isn't ripe enough.
How Much Does a Honey Deuce Cost at the US Open?
The Honey Deuce is famously expensive at the tournament. At the 2025 US Open, a single cocktail cost $23, the same as 2024, served in a commemorative US Open glass that fans get to keep as a souvenir. Historical pricing:
- 2012: $14
- 2022: $22
- 2023: $22
- 2024: $23
- 2025: $23
The price rose from $14 in 2012 to $22 in 2022, a 57% increase that outpaced US inflation over the same period.
Why the Honey Deuce Is a Major US Open Business
Despite the price tag, the Honey Deuce is a runaway commercial hit. According to Grey Goose and sports-business reporting:
- More than 3 million Honey Deuces have been sold at the US Open since the drink debuted in 2007.
- In 2024, the tournament sold 556,782 Honey Deuces at $23 each, generating roughly $12.8 million in revenue.
- In 2025, sales hit a new record: 738,459 Honey Deuces sold, generating about $17 million, up 32% from 2024.
- Grey Goose extended its US Open sponsorship in 2023 for another five years.
To put that in perspective: the Honey Deuce is to the US Open what the Mint Julep is to the Kentucky Derby, a signature tournament cocktail that has become inseparable from the fan experience.
Why Tennis Fans Love the Honey Deuce
A few reasons the Honey Deuce has become a cult favorite in the tennis world:
- It's genuinely refreshing. Late-August afternoons in Queens are hot and humid. Cold lemonade, vodka, and melon are exactly what you want.
- It's photogenic. The pink color and green melon garnish are made for social media. Every year, US Open TikTok is flooded with Honey Deuce content.
- The souvenir cup is a keepsake. The commemorative glass lists past US Open champions, making it a piece of tennis history.
- It's a status drink. Ordering one is part of the ritual of attending the tournament, the same way ordering a strawberries-and-cream is part of going to Wimbledon.
Honey Deuce Variations to Try
If you want to riff on the classic, here are a few popular variations:
- Frozen Honey Deuce (Frosé style): The US Open now serves a frozen version alongside the original. At home, blend the ingredients with extra ice for a slushy version.
- Sparkling Honey Deuce: Mautone himself has said that when he makes the drink at home, he'll sometimes add sparkling wine or top it with soda water for extra lift.
- Berry-forward version: Swap or add fresh raspberries and blackberries for a richer fruit profile.
- Lower-ABV version: Cut the vodka in half and increase the lemonade for a more sessionable brunch drink.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Honey Deuce
What does a Honey Deuce taste like?
A Honey Deuce tastes like a lightly boozy pink lemonade with a hint of raspberry. It's tart, sweet, refreshing, and crisp, not heavy or syrupy. The honeydew garnish is edible and adds a subtle melon note as you drink.
Is a Honey Deuce a strong drink?
It's a moderately strong cocktail. With 1.5 oz of vodka and 0.5 oz of raspberry liqueur, a Honey Deuce is comparable to a standard vodka lemonade or a Cosmopolitan in alcohol content.
What kind of vodka is used in a Honey Deuce?
The official Honey Deuce recipe uses Grey Goose vodka, since Grey Goose is the sponsor. At home, any premium vodka works well.
What is the pink color in a Honey Deuce from?
The pink blush comes from Chambord, a French black raspberry liqueur, which is floated on top of the lemonade and vodka.
When was the Honey Deuce invented?
The Honey Deuce was created in 2006 by mixologist Nick Mautone and officially debuted at the US Open in 2007.
How many Honey Deuces are sold at the US Open?
The 2025 US Open set a new record: 738,459 Honey Deuces sold, generating about $17 million in revenue, up 32% from 2024's 556,782 cocktails and roughly $12.8 million.
Can you get a Honey Deuce anywhere besides the US Open?
The official Honey Deuce is only served at the US Open, but many bars, restaurants, and tennis clubs around the country serve their own versions during the tournament, and the recipe is easy to make at home.
What tennis term is a Honey Deuce named after?
"Deuce" refers to a tied 40-40 score in a tennis game. The name pairs the melon garnish (honeydew) with the tennis term (deuce) for a play on words.
The Bottom Line: The Honey Deuce Is Tennis Culture in a Glass
The Honey Deuce isn't just a cocktail, it's part of the fabric of modern tennis. From its origin at a Long Island farm stand to the record 738,459 cups raised at Flushing Meadows in 2025, the drink has come to represent the fun, glamorous, distinctly American energy of the US Open.
Whether you're heading to the tournament, watching from home, or hosting a Grand Slam viewing party, the Honey Deuce is the drink to have in hand. Grab a bottle of Grey Goose, a jar of Chambord, some fresh lemonade, and a honeydew, and toast the next big point on Arthur Ashe.
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