Can’t Make It To the U.S. Open? Make a Honey Deuce Instead: Easy Recipe for the Grand Slam’s Famous Cocktail

Game, set, match..the wait for this year’s U.S. Open is finally over! Whether you’re a tennis superfan or occasional viewer, the matches aren’t the only draw during this stateside grand slam. The honey deuce cocktail has its own cult following as it’s the official drink of the championship event. (Think mint julep status but for tennis.) One of these drinks will cost a pretty penny at the grand slam. Luckily, we’ve found the official recipe so you can make it at home while cheering on your favorite players. Here’s how to prepare this signature sip with just four ingredients!

What is a honey deuce?

This cocktail consists of vodka, lemonade and raspberry liqueur served over ice. The drink is garnished with balls of honeydew melon, which resemble small tennis balls. While the cocktail was first served at the U.S. Open in 2006, it remains a crowd-favorite thanks to its sweet yet tart flavor.

How much does honey deuce cost at the U.S. Open?

At this year’s U.S. Open, a honey deuce cocktail costs $23. This price tag is due to the sturdy plastic cup the drink is served in, which many consider to be a souvenir as it lists the current year and previous U.S. Open winners. However, if you want to experience the deliciousness of this cocktail for much less, making it at home is your best bet. 

Easy trick to create perfectly round melon balls

Mixing up this drink in a glass is simple, but forming the melon ball garnish may seem tricky. Luckily, it’s not with the help of a melon baller. This tool, which looks like an ice cream scoop, allows you to form round balls of honeydew melon in seconds. Using a ripe melon, follow these steps from Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, founder and owner of MuyBuenoBlog.com.

1. Cut the honeydew melon in half.
2. Scoop the seeds and membrane into a separate bowl.
3. With the melon on a steady surface, begin scooping out balls. (Note: Melon ballers usually come with two scoop sizes. So, use either one when forming the balls.)
4. Place melon balls in a clean bowl and store in the fridge until you’re ready to use.

A classic honey deuce recipe

Below, you’ll find the official recipe for this drink from the Grey Goose YouTube channel. Similar to how a dirty martini is garnished with three olives on a toothpick, the same amount of melon balls are served with this sip. You’ll feel like you’re at the U.S. Open without waiting in a line to get your hands on this cocktail!

Honey Deuce

Ingredients:

• 1¼ oz. vodka
• 3 oz. fresh lemonade
• ½ oz. high-quality raspberry liqueur like Chambord
• 3 honeydew melon balls, for garnish

Directions:

• Yield: 1 serving

1. Grab chilled glass and fill it with crushed ice.
2. Pour in vodka and top with lemonade and raspberry liqueur.
3. Garnish with skewer of melon balls. Sip and enjoy!

Make it a honey deuce mocktail

If you would prefer a non-alcoholic honey deuce, try this recipe by mocktail enthusiast Blair Horton. It packs the sweetness of a honey deuce with a vitamin boost thanks to yerba mate tea, raspberries and honey.

Honey Deuce Mocktail

@blairhorton

✨The Honey Deuce✨ is the official cocktail of the🎾 @usopen so you know we needed a non alcoholic version with benefits for the final weekend! We’ve been watching nonstop and these late night matches have been WILD. We are so pumped for @cocogauff and @benshelton but we also 🫶 @carlitosalcarazz I like to think this version of the honey deuce would actually be performance enhancing for our players! We’ve got electrolytes, a little caffeine, vitamin C, and antioxidants! Recipe (makes 2): Honeydew melon 1 cup Yerba mate tea 1/4 cup raspberries 1.5 oz lemon juice 2 tsp honey Pinch sea salt Sparkling water ✨Brew Yerba mate tea. Juice lemons and combine with raspberries, honey, salt, and tea. After creating melon balls, the melon gets super juicy, so I poured that extra juice into the drink as well. It was about an oz it melon juice. Muddle and strain over ice or pour directly over ice (I like the chunks of raspberry, but straining gives a smoother drink). Top with sparkling water, melon balls, and mint. * for the crushed ice I just blended ice. The Honey Deuce cocktail: ice 1 1/4 ounces @greygoose vodka 3 ounces fresh lemonade 1/2 ounce raspberry liqueur, like Chambord Frozen honeydew melon ball skewer, to garnish #honeydeuce #usopen #usopentennis #tennis #sobermovement #sobercurious #soberathlete #soberliving #mocktail #mocktailrecipe #mocktailrecipes

♬ Lost – Frank Ocean

Ingredients:

• 3 honeydew melon balls, for garnish
• 1 oz. melon juice (from when you shape the fruit balls)
• 1 cup yerba mate tea
• ¼ cup raspberries, throughly cleaned
• 1½ oz. lemon juice
• 2 tsp. honey
• Pinch sea salt
• Sparkling water

Directions:

• Yield: 2 servings

1. Brew yerba mate tea according to instructions on package. Cool steeped tea.
2. Combine cooled tea with lemon juice, raspberries, honey, salt and tea.
3. Muddle mixture. Strain or pour directly over ice into 2 glasses. Top each glass with sparkling water, melon balls and mint.

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