The pink cocktail in nearly every hand at the US Open has become more than just a drink. Fans love the Honey Deuce because it combines a tasty vodka-lemonade mix with the excitement of being part of an exclusive tennis tradition that costs $23 and comes in a collectible cup. More than 556,000 Honey Deuce cocktails were sold at the 2024 tournament alone. We explain why Fans Love Honey Deuce.
The cherry-blossom-pink drink has been the tournament’s signature cocktail since 2007 and shows no signs of slowing down. Made with Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and topped with honeydew melon balls, the Honey Deuce generated nearly $13 million in sales last year.
Tennis fans collect the commemorative plastic cups and make the drink part of their US Open experience. The Honey Deuce has become one of the most profitable cocktails in sports, proving that the right signature drink can become as iconic as the event itself.
Key Takeaways – Fans Love Honey Deuce
- The Honey Deuce has generated over $12 million in revenue and sold more than 2.8 million drinks since 2007
- Fans love collecting the commemorative cups and consider the $23 cocktail an essential part of their US Open experience
- Sports signature drinks like the Honey Deuce create lasting traditions that connect fans to major events
What Makes the Honey Deuce a US Open Icon
The Honey Deuce has become inseparable from the US Open experience through its unique ingredients, compelling origin story, and deep cultural ties to tennis culture. This Grey Goose vodka cocktail transforms a simple drink into a tournament tradition that generates millions in revenue.
The Ingredients and Flavor Profile
The Honey Deuce cocktail combines Grey Goose vodka, fresh lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and honeydew melon balls. The raspberry liqueur, specifically Chambord, gives the drink its signature pink color.
The honeydew melon balls serve as the drink’s most recognizable feature. They look exactly like tennis balls when placed on skewers. This visual connection makes the cocktail instantly recognizable at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Key Ingredients:
- Grey Goose vodka (base spirit)
- Fresh lemonade (tartness)
- Chambord raspberry liqueur (sweetness and color)
- Honeydew melon balls (tennis ball appearance)
The Chambord balances the tartness of the lemonade while adding complexity. Without it, the drink would be just another vodka lemonade. The raspberry flavor creates a refreshing taste perfect for late summer tennis matches.
The Story Behind Its Creation
Nick Mautone created the Honey Deuce in 2005 while working as a Grey Goose ambassador. The idea came to him while scooping honeydew melon balls for dessert, noticing they looked just like tennis balls.
Mautone needed a cocktail that could be made in large quantities during the tournament. He tested several variations before settling on the final recipe. The drink had to be easy to prepare for thousands of fans.
The cocktail debuted at the 2007 US Open and has been the tournament’s signature drink for 18 years. It started as a practical solution but became a cultural phenomenon.
The creation process focused on both flavor and scalability. Mautone rejected many early versions because they were too difficult to produce in large format for tournament crowds.
Cultural Significance at the US Open
Over 500,000 Honey Deuce cocktails were sold at the 2024 US Open, generating nearly $13 million in revenue. Since 2011, more than 2.8 million have been sold at the tournament.
The drink costs $23 and comes with a commemorative cup that fans collect each year. Celebrities like Timothee Chalamet and tennis commentator John McEnroe regularly mention it on social media and broadcasts.
Cultural Impact:
- Social media phenomenon
- Celebrity endorsements
- Commemorative merchandise
- Restaurant variations across New York City
The Honey Deuce has inspired variations at restaurants like Dante and COTE. Grey Goose even created an at-home kit so fans can make the cocktail year-round. The drink joins other iconic sports beverages like the Kentucky Derby’s Mint Julep.
Tennis fans rush to buy the cocktail as part of their US Open experience. It represents the end of summer and the final tennis major of the year.
Signature Cocktails and Traditions in Sports
Sports venues create lasting memories through signature drinks that become as important as the games themselves. The Honey Deuce has become synonymous with the US Open alongside other iconic pairings like mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby and strawberries and cream at Wimbledon.
How the Honey Deuce Compares to Other Event Drinks
The mint julep stands as perhaps the most famous sports drink tradition. Made with bourbon, mint, and simple syrup, this cocktail has been the Kentucky Derby’s signature drink for over 100 years. The drink costs around $15 at Churchill Downs.
Wimbledon pairs tennis with strawberries and cream, a tradition dating back to the 1800s. The All England Club serves over 30,000 portions during the tournament. They also offer Pimm’s Cup, a gin-based cocktail with fruit garnishes.
The Masters Tournament at Augusta National serves pimento cheese sandwiches for just $1.50. This affordable pricing contrasts sharply with the Honey Deuce’s $23 cost.
Baseball games feature beer and hot dogs, immortalized in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The Super Bowl creates temporary food trends, with chicken wings consumption spiking dramatically during the game.
The Role of Signature Food and Drinks in Fan Experience
Signature drinks create shared experiences that connect fans to events. The Honey Deuce’s commemorative cup lists past Grand Slam champions, giving fans a keepsake that extends beyond the tournament.
These traditions build emotional connections. Fans associate specific tastes with memorable moments. The honeydew melon balls in the Honey Deuce mimic tennis balls, creating a visual link to the sport.
Revenue Generation:
- US Open: $13 million from Honey Deuce sales in 2024
- Kentucky Derby: Mint juleps generate millions annually
- Wimbledon: Strawberries contribute significantly to concession revenue
The drinks become part of the event atmosphere. Over 556,000 Honey Deuce cocktails were sold at the 2024 US Open alone.
The Impact of Marketing and Partnerships
Grey Goose created the Honey Deuce partnership in 2007, transforming the US Open experience. The vodka brand gains exposure to affluent tennis fans throughout the tournament’s two weeks.
Corporate partnerships drive these signature drink programs:
- Woodford Reserve sponsors Kentucky Derby mint juleps
- Official beverage sponsors at major sporting events create exclusive drink offerings
- Branded glassware extends marketing reach beyond the venue
The partnerships create win-win scenarios. Venues generate substantial revenue while sponsors reach targeted demographics. The US Open has sold over 2.8 million Honey Deuce drinks since 2007.
Marketing extends through social media. Fans photograph their signature drinks, creating organic promotion. The pink color of the Honey Deuce makes it particularly photogenic for Instagram and other platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tennis fans often have questions about the official U.S. Open cocktail and its unique features. The drink’s ingredients, presentation, and evolution since 2007 are common topics of interest.
What ingredients are used to make a Honey Deuce cocktail?
The Honey Deuce contains vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur and honeydew melon balls. Grey Goose vodka serves as the base spirit for the cocktail.
The raspberry liqueur gives the drink its pink color. The lemonade provides a tart, refreshing base that balances the other flavors.
How has the Honey Deuce become associated with the US Open experience?
The Honey Deuce has been a U.S. Open staple for nearly 20 years. It was introduced at the 2007 U.S. Open as the tournament’s signature drink.
Tennis fans can find the drink throughout the venue. It’s sold in carts, on both levels of Armstrong, at Grandstand, and on all levels of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The cocktail has generated massive sales numbers. More than 550,000 Honey Deuce cocktails were sold at the US Open in 2024.
What distinguishes the Honey Deuce from other signature sports event cocktails?
The Honey Deuce stands out due to its tennis-themed presentation. The honeydew melon balls are designed to look like tennis balls sitting on top of the drink.
The cocktail’s financial success sets it apart from other sports drinks. The U.S. Open’s signature drink sold more than half a million drinks last year and generated nearly $13 million in revenue.
This makes it by many measures the most profitable cocktail in sports. The drink’s popularity far exceeds typical sports venue beverages.
Are there any special garnishes or presentation styles unique to the Honey Deuce served at the US Open?
The honeydew melon balls serve as the drink’s signature garnish. These grape-size honeydew melon balls garnish every one of the hundreds of thousands of Honey Deuce cocktails sold at the tournament.
The National Tennis Center becomes the city’s single greatest consumer of honeydew melons during the tournament. The melon balls float on top of the pink cocktail, creating a visual connection to tennis.
The drink comes in a plastic commemorative cup. This allows fans to keep a souvenir from their US Open experience.
How do fans typically obtain or make a Honey Deuce during the US Open?
Fans can purchase the cocktail at multiple locations throughout the tennis center. The drink is available at various concession stands and bars across the venue.
The Grey Goose Honey Deuce is a $23 drink served exclusively at the tournament. Fans cannot buy the official version outside of the US Open grounds.
This straightforward recipe allows fans to recreate the iconic Honey Deuce at home after the tournament ends. Home versions require the same basic ingredients and honeydew melon garnish.
Has the recipe for the Honey Deuce changed or evolved since it was first introduced?
The cocktail was created in 2006 when U.S. Open sponsor Grey Goose asked Nick Mautone to come up with a signature vodka drink. Mautone was a respected restaurateur who had been managing partner at Gramercy Tavern.
The tournament has added new versions of the original recipe. In 2018, the Open began offering a frozen version of the cocktail.
A mini version has also been introduced. This year a complimentary mini version of the drink will make an appearance at a pop-up bar in Grand Central Terminal.
