Honey Deuce
The official cocktail of the U.S. Open, combining vodka, fresh lemonade, and raspberry liqueur topped with honeydew melon balls that look like tennis balls.
9%
ABV
178
Calories
Highball
Glass
Flavor Profile
Flavor Journey
History & Heritage
“Grey Goose tapped bar whisperer Nick Mautone in 2007 to craft a signature serve for the sweltering New York fortnight. His answer: a crushable vodka lemonade kissed with Chambord and crowned with honeydew spheres that cosplay as tennis balls. Since then the Honey Deuce has become the Open's unofficial currency—more than a quarter‑million poured each tournament—with copycats showing up at every backyard watch party from Brooklyn rooftops to Portland porches.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Fill a chilled highball glass with crushed ice and add the vodka
Top with lemonade to just below the rim, then add the Chambord
Garnish with honeydew melon balls
Glassware
Served over crushed ice in a highball glass
Garnish
Four melon balls skewered
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Juice your own lemons and keep the batch chilled—store-bought lemonade tastes like defeat
Pre-freeze melon balls so they double as edible ice
A bar spoon of simple syrup balances tart lemons if your berries are shy
Grey Goose is traditional, but a small-batch vodka gives it indie cred
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Honey Deuce.
Other Variations
Frozen Honey Deuce
Blended with a scoop of crushed ice for a slushy riff that's basically tennis-side sorbet.
Changes
Honey Deuce Spritz
Swaps half the lemonade for fizzy water and invites a bruised mint leaf to the party—lighter, brighter, brunch-ready.
Changes
Bourbon Deuce
Trades vodka for high-rye bourbon and adds a dash of peach bitters for a honeyed, stone-fruit backbone.
Changes
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Blue Lagoon
Vodka, blue curaçao, and lemonade for an electric-blue disco-era refresher.
French Martini
Vodka, pineapple, and Chambord shaken into a silky, berry-hued martini from the 1990s cocktail revival.
John Daly
The boozy Arnold Palmer—vodka with iced tea and lemonade over ice.