Overview: The Honey Deuce cocktail marks its 20th anniversary at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York. Sales have surged from an initial run of 25,000 drinks to approximately 800,000 units sold last year.
The Full Story
The drink has become as much a part of the tournament as tennis itself, celebrating its 20th year while drawing fans across Flushing Meadows from outer courts to luxury suites. Its rise coincided with the rapid adoption of social media since its debut in 2007.
While Wimbledon features Pimm’s Cup and the Kentucky Derby features the mint julep, the U.S. Open has established this Grey Goose vodka-laced treat as its own signature offering. The collectible plastic glass printed with past U.S. Open champions’ names in decreasing font size has become a sought-after souvenir, regularly appearing for sale on eBay and often selling out before the tournament ends.
Production & Profile
The cocktail is a blend of vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur. Each drink is topped with three honeydew melon balls selected by restaurateur Nick Mautone to resemble tennis balls. A dedicated team scoops between 2.5 million to 3 million balls of melon annually to ensure availability for the tournament.
Levy pre-mixes the cocktails using casks equivalent to beer kegs on a slightly smaller scale. The hospitality partners take these casks and pre-batch the exact amount required for service during the event.
Brand & Industry History
The recipe owes its inspiration, in part, to the mint julep after USTA National Tennis Center COO Danny Zausner took a trip to the first race in the famed Triple Crown series. In 2007, the cocktail sold out its initial run at $12 each. Last year, the price climbed to $23 a pop.
The advent of social media has accelerated the drink’s popularity. The U.S. Open accredited around 100 creators this year, with 20 specifically dedicated to food and beverages. The Australian Open and Grey Goose hoped to recreate the success with the launch of another cocktail in 2025 – the Grey Goose Lemon Ace – selling more than 100,000 units sold in the inaugural year.
What This Means
The drink’s popularity has grown significantly since its debut. Zausner noted that while there was not a real social media presence then, for those at the Derby it meant you arrived. The rapid adoption of social media since 2007 has turned the Honey Deuce into a cultural staple alongside the sport itself.
Consumer Takeaway
Fans can enjoy the Grey Goose vodka-laced treat topped with honeydew melon balls or collect the plastic glass printed with champion names. The drink remains a central part of the tournament experience, available from the outer courts to luxury suites.
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