If you have ever watched a match at the US Open, you already know the drink in every other hand: a tall glass of pale pink liquid, packed with crushed ice, topped with three honeydew melon balls speared on a skewer like tiny tennis balls.
That is the honey deuce, and it has become as much a part of the tournament as the matches themselves. The good news is you do not need a stadium ticket to make one. With four ingredients and a melon baller, you can pour a proper honey deuce in your own kitchen tonight.
What Is A Honey Deuce Cocktail?
The honey deuce gets its name from tennis itself. A tied score of forty forty in a game is called deuce, and the drink pairs that wordplay with its honeydew melon garnish, hence honey deuce. Grey Goose has poured it as the official cocktail of the US Open since 2006. The brand approached bartender Nick Mautone to create a memorable drink for tennis fans. It needed to be refreshing enough for a hot day of tennis. It also had to be simple enough for bartenders to serve hundreds of drinks during changeovers.
Mautone landed on a short list of ingredients that still defines the drink today: vodka, fresh lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and honeydew melon. Nothing fussy, nothing that needs a shaker, just a glass, ice, a stir, and a garnish that turns out to be the most photographed part of the whole cocktail.
The Story Behind The Honey Deuce
The honey deuce turns twenty this year, and its origin traces back to a single drive out to the Hamptons. Nick Mautone, who was serving as Grey Goose’s first brand ambassador, was tasked with dreaming up a signature cocktail after the brand became the official vodka of the US Open in 2006.
What he built to debut the following season was meant to travel well, pour fast, and taste refreshing enough for fans sitting in the sun for hours at a time.
Nearly two decades later, the honey deuce has outgrown the tennis crowd entirely. Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner have been photographed holding the drink courtside. Its popularity has turned it into a status symbol at the tournament. It has become as recognizable as the stylish outfits worn by fans watching the matches.
At the most recent US Open, organizers reported selling more than two million cups of the cocktail across the two week event.
Even tennis legends have weighed in. Serena Williams tried one on camera and joked about renaming it entirely: “Honey, that’s not deuce, that’s called honey ace. Let’s rename it. It is good.”
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Two decades, one melon baller, and four simple ingredients later, the honey deuce remains proof that the easiest cocktails to make are often the ones people remember longest.
Honey Deuce Recipe
Serves: 1 | Prep time: 5 minutes | Calories: approximately 230
Ingredients
- Crushed ice, to fill the glass
- 1¼ oz Grey Goose vodka (or any vodka)
- 3 oz fresh lemonade
- ½ oz raspberry liqueur (Chambord works well)
- 3 honeydew melon balls, for garnish
Honey Deuce Recipe Step by Step Guide
Instructions
- Fill a Collins or highball glass to the top with crushed ice. The crushed ice is not optional; it is what keeps the drink icy cold from first sip to last and gives it that signature slushy look.
- Pour the vodka directly over the ice.
- Top the glass with the fresh lemonade, then the raspberry liqueur. Give it one gentle stir so the raspberry liqueur swirls through and turns the whole drink a soft coral pink instead of mixing in flat and even.
- Use a melon baller to scoop three balls from your honeydew, slide them onto a cocktail skewer, and rest the skewer across the rim of the glass.
- Serve right away while the ice is still fresh and crushed.
Note:
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Tips For Making The Best Honey Deuce
- Crush your own ice if you can. Store bought crushed ice melts fast. Pulsing regular ice cubes in a food processor or blender for a few seconds gives you fresher, drier crushed ice that holds the drink’s texture longer.
- Make your lemonade fresh. Bottled lemonade is fine in a pinch, but a quick homemade batch of lemon juice, water, and sugar gives you control over how sweet or tart the final drink turns out, and it tastes noticeably brighter.
- Pick a ripe, fragrant honeydew. A melon that smells sweet at the stem end will scoop into cleaner, rounder balls and taste far better as a garnish than an underripe one.
- Chill your glass first. Popping the empty glass in the freezer for ten minutes keeps the crushed ice from melting the moment the drink is poured.
- Do not skip the skewer. Three melon balls on a stick is the detail that makes this recipe instantly recognizable, and it doubles as a sweet bite once the cocktail is gone.
Popular Honey Deuce Variations
Frozen Honey Deuce
Blend the vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur with a cup of ice until slushy, then pour into a glass and top with the melon ball skewer. Great for a hot afternoon.
Batch Honey Deuce For A Crowd
Multiply the vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur by however many guests you are serving and combine in a large pitcher. Pour over crushed ice glass by glass and add fresh melon skewers right before serving.
Virgin Honey Deuce
Skip the vodka and raspberry liqueur, and use lemonade with a splash of raspberry syrup or cranberry juice instead. It keeps the color and the flavor without the alcohol.
Swap The Liqueur
No raspberry liqueur on hand? Blackberry or strawberry liqueur will give you a similar pink color and berry sweetness with a slightly different finish.
References:
- Observer, “The Secret History of the Honey Deuce Cocktail” — https://observer.com/2026/08/honey-deuce-cocktail-history-us-open-tennis/
- Town & Country, “The Honey Deuce Origin Story and Recipe” — https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/sporting/a73504741/honey-deuce-origin-interview-recipe/
Honey Deuce Recipe FAQs
What alcohol is in a honey deuce?
The classic recipe uses vodka, traditionally Grey Goose, along with a raspberry liqueur such as Chambord for color and a touch of berry sweetness.
Can I use any vodka for a honey deuce?
Yes. Grey Goose is the original and most authentic choice since the brand created the drink, but any vodka you enjoy will work fine in this recipe.
Why does a honey deuce use crushed ice instead of cubes?
Crushed ice chills the drink faster and gives it the light, slushy texture the cocktail is known for. It also melts a bit as you drink, gently diluting the cocktail so it stays balanced to the last sip.
How many calories are in a honey deuce?
A standard honey deuce made with the classic measurements comes in around 220 to 240 calories, depending on how sweet your lemonade is and how generous the pour.
Can I make a honey deuce ahead of time for a party?
You can premix the vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur in a pitcher and refrigerate it, but wait to add the crushed ice and melon skewer until just before serving so the drink stays cold and the garnish looks fresh.
What can I use instead of raspberry liqueur?
Blackberry or strawberry liqueur are the closest substitutes and will still give the drink its familiar pink color.