The $12 Million Cocktail: How to Make the US Open Honey Deuce at Home

17 Aug

The Honey Deuce is the official signature cocktail of the US Open. It was created back in 2006 when Grey Goose commissioned bartender Nick Mautone to design a refreshing drink with broad appeal to combat the heavy humidity of late summer in NYC. To say it caught on is an understatement - fans now throw back over 500,000 of these bad boys every single tournament (that's roughly one poured every 1.5 seconds, pulling in over $12 million in sales)!

The name itself is a clever nod to a tie score of 40-40 in tennis, known as a "deuce". But the real star of the show is the garnish: three perfect spheres of honeydew melon that look exactly like miniature tennis balls. Whichever match you're watching, there is no denying that this mix of crisp citrus and sweet berry flavors has become the ultimate global staple for backyard hangouts and late-summer brunches alike.

Here is how to craft the perfect one at home!

Picture of a Honey Deuce at the US Open Tennis Tournament — The Honey Deuce

**Shopping List**
**1.5 oz Grey Goose Vodka** (or your favorite premium vodka)
**3 oz Fresh Lemonade** (Fresh squeezed or a high-quality brand like Simply Lemonade works best)
**0.5 oz Chambord** (use Sourpuss for a tangy, sweet-and-sour twist instead of traditional Chambord, and it’s about half the price)
**Ice** (Enough to fill your highball glass)
**1 Honeydew Melon** (You'll need enough to scoop out 3 balls per drink)
**Bamboo skewers or cocktail picks**
**Preparation**
**Prep your garnish:** Using a melon baller, scoop out three round honeydew melon balls and slide them onto your skewer. *Pro-Tip:* Pop your prepared melon skewers into the freezer for a couple of hours before your guests arrive! They act like extra ice cubes and keep your drink ice-cold without diluting it.
**Prep your glass:** Grab your favorite highball or Collins glass and fill it to the top with cubed ice.
**Add the base:** Pour in your 1.5 oz of premium vodka, followed by 3 oz of fresh lemonade.
**The pour:** Slowly drizzle the 0.5 oz of Chambord (raspberry liqueur) right over the top. The heavy fruit syrup will sink through the lemonade, creating a gorgeous, Instagram-worthy sunset gradient.
**Stir and serve:** Grab your bar spoon and give the whole glass a gentle stir. Lay your frozen honeydew "tennis balls" across the rim of the glass.
Now grab a seat, turn on the TV, and enjoy the final match of the summer!

Disclaimer: The names of the drinks featured in this post are used solely for fun and thematic purposes for a holiday celebration. These recipes are intended only for adults of legal drinking age in your region. Always know your limits, and please, never drink and drive.

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