When summer meets tennis, few drinks are as recognizable as the Honey Deuce. The pink cocktail has become closely associated with the US Open, where fans enjoy it while watching some of the world’s biggest tennis matches.
The Honey Deuce is refreshing, fruity, simple to prepare, and easy to recognize thanks to its three honeydew melon balls, which look like tiny tennis balls. The official 2026 US Open describes it as its signature cocktail, made with GREY GOOSE vodka, fresh lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and melon balls.
If you’re planning a US Open watch party or simply want a refreshing summer drink at home, the Honey Deuce is an easy choice.
What Is the Honey Deuce?
The Honey Deuce is a vodka-based cocktail that tastes similar to a raspberry lemonade. Its classic recipe combines vodka, fresh lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and honeydew melon balls.
The drink was created in 2006 by restaurateur Nick Mautone. According to GREY GOOSE, the idea for the garnish came when Mautone saw honeydew melon balls at a farmers market and noticed that they looked like tennis balls.
The name is also a tennis-inspired play on words. In tennis, “deuce” refers to a score of 40-40, while the honeydew garnish gives the drink its “honey” connection.
Why Is the Honey Deuce Famous at the US Open?
The Honey Deuce has become much more than an ordinary cocktail. It is part of the US Open experience.
GREY GOOSE has been the official vodka of the US Open for 20 years, and the Honey Deuce remains the tournament’s signature cocktail in 2026.
Its popularity is also impressive. GREY GOOSE says more than 740,000 Honey Deuce cocktails were sold at the 2025 US Open, bringing total sales since 2011 to more than 3.5 million.
At the 2026 US Open, the cocktail is available for $23 and comes in a commemorative cup while supplies last.
But you don’t need to travel to New York to enjoy one. The drink is simple enough to make at home.
Honey Deuce Ingredients
For one classic Honey Deuce, you need:
- 1¼ ounces vodka
- 3 ounces fresh lemonade
- ½ ounce premium raspberry liqueur
- 3 honeydew melon balls
- Ice
The official recipe recommends serving the cocktail in a chilled highball glass with cubed ice.
Fresh lemonade is especially recommended because it gives the drink a brighter and fresher flavor.
How to Make a Honey Deuce at Home
Making the Honey Deuce takes only a few simple steps.
Step 1: Prepare the Glass
Chill a highball glass and fill it with cubed ice.
Step 2: Add the Vodka
Pour 1¼ ounces of vodka over the ice.
Step 3: Add Lemonade
Pour in 3 ounces of fresh lemonade. The lemonade provides the drink’s sweet and citrusy base.
Step 4: Add Raspberry Liqueur
Add ½ ounce of raspberry liqueur. This gives the cocktail its recognizable pink color and fruity raspberry flavor.
Step 5: Add the Tennis-Ball Garnish
Finish the drink with three honeydew melon balls on a skewer. Freezing the melon balls first can help keep the drink cold and makes the garnish look even more like tennis balls.
That’s it. Your homemade Honey Deuce is ready to serve.
What Does a Honey Deuce Taste Like?
The Honey Deuce has a light, fruity and refreshing flavor. The easiest way to describe it is as a vodka raspberry lemonade.
The lemonade provides sweetness and citrus, while raspberry liqueur adds a berry flavor. Vodka provides the alcoholic base without overpowering the fruit flavors.
The honeydew melon garnish adds a fun visual element and can also provide a fresh melon flavor as you enjoy the drink.
How to Make Honey Deuce for a Party
The Honey Deuce is also easy to prepare in a larger batch.
For a party-sized pitcher, the official GREY GOOSE recipe uses:
- 16 ounces vodka
- 32 ounces fresh-squeezed lemonade
- 8 ounces raspberry liqueur
- Honeydew melon balls for garnish
Add the vodka, lemonade and raspberry liqueur to a large pitcher filled with ice and stir. Pour into ice-filled highball glasses and add the melon garnish. The official recipe serves about nine people.
This makes it a convenient drink for a US Open viewing party, summer gathering or casual weekend event.
Can You Make a Frozen Honey Deuce?
Yes. A frozen version is another easy option for hot summer days.
The official frozen recipe uses the same basic ingredients—vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur and honeydew melon balls—but blends the drink with ice until it reaches a frozen consistency.
The result is closer to a frozen fruit cocktail and can be especially refreshing when temperatures are high.
Tips for the Best Honey Deuce
For the best homemade version, keep a few simple tips in mind.
Use fresh lemonade: Fresh-squeezed lemonade can give the cocktail a brighter taste.
Chill the melon: Frozen honeydew balls help keep the drink cold.
Don’t skip the garnish: The three melon balls are one of the most recognizable parts of the Honey Deuce.
Use plenty of ice: A well-chilled cocktail is especially enjoyable during summer.
Serve immediately: The drink tastes best when freshly prepared.
A Perfect Drink for a US Open Watch Party
You don’t need to be sitting inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to create a US Open atmosphere.
Set up a television, invite friends, prepare some easy snacks and serve Honey Deuces in highball glasses. You can even cut honeydew melon into balls before the match begins and keep them chilled in the freezer.
The 2026 US Open runs from August 23 through September 13, making this a timely cocktail for tennis fans and summer gatherings.
The combination of lemonade, raspberry flavor and the tennis-ball-inspired garnish makes the Honey Deuce both easy to drink and fun to serve.
Final Serve
The Honey Deuce works because it keeps things simple: refreshing lemonade, fruity raspberry flavor, vodka and a playful tennis-inspired garnish. Its connection to the US Open gives the cocktail an extra sense of occasion, but the recipe is simple enough for anyone to recreate at home.
So, whether you’re watching the US Open with friends or simply looking for an easy summer cocktail, the Honey Deuce is a fun drink to put on the menu. Just add some chilled melon balls, pour the lemonade and get ready for the next serve.
