How to Make a Honey Deuce Cocktail, the US Open’s Signature Drink

3 min readHere’s the not-so-big secret about the US Open: The food and drinks are just as enjoyable as the action on the court. Therefore, it’s hard to discuss the Grand Slam tennis tournament without talking about its signature cocktail, the Honey Deuce. The drink has been an essential part of the US Open experience since it debuted at the tournament in 2007. The man who created it, former Grey Goose ambassador and restaurateur Nick Mautone, was inspired by the light and refreshing taste of the seasonal honeydew melons for the iconic drink—and it didn’t hurt that, when scooped, the fruit resembled the bright-green tennis balls that flew up and down the court.The cocktail’s ferocious popularity has not slowed down. According to The Athletic, during last year’s tournament, 740,000 Honey Deuces were sold. Let’s just hope they never run out—especially because, as other concessions have increased in price at the US Open, the Honey Deuce’s cost will be the same as it’s been since 2024: $23. Imbibers also get to keep their souvenir cups, which list decades and decades’ worth of US Open singles tournament champions.Frances Tiafoe, a semifinalist at the tournament in 2022 and 2024, isn’t afraid to kick off the annual competition with a Honey Deuce.“The list of legends who have their name on the cup is one of my favorite things about a Honey Deuce,” Tiafoe told Esquire in 2024. “I love seeing the fans sipping on Honey Deuces in Ashe while I'm on court. The energy at the US Open is different, and the Honey Deuce is part of the magic.”Last year, Tiafoe took a break from his tear through the men's singles games and gave us a step-by-step tutorial for making the perfect Honey Deuce, which you can watch below.“One of the reasons the hype around the Grey Goose Honey Deuce has remained over the years is because the cocktail is only available for a very specific few weeks in late August into early September,” says Aleco Azqueta, Grey Goose North America vice president of marketing. His exclusive tip for leveling up your Honey Deuce is to “take a melon baller and scoop out three balls for every cocktail you plan to make. These can then be frozen overnight and served the next day.”Even if you’re watching from your couch instead of at the stadium this year, you don’t have to miss out on enjoying this essential part of the US Open. The Honey Deuce is not only an ace in terms of flavor but is also simple enough to re-create at home, no matter how far you are from the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.Ingredients1 1/4 oz Grey Goose vodka3 oz fresh lemonade1/2 oz raspberry liqueur3 honeydew melon ballsDirectionsPlace a halved honeydew melon in the freezer overnight. Remove, then use a melon baller to scoop three balls per drink.Fill a chilled Collins glass with ice. Add vodka, then top with fresh lemonade and raspberry liqueur. Garnish with a skewer of 1 or multiple frozen honeydew melon balls.