The Kentucky Derby has the mint julep. The US Open has the Honey Deuce.
Created by Grey Goose mixologist Nick Mautone in 2007, the tasty combination of vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur has become the signature beverage of the tennis tournament.
The best part? The frozen honeydew melon balls used as a garnish. Resembling tennis balls, they remind us of what the US Open is really about (not that the food and beverages at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center aren't great on their own).
Mautone, Grey Goose says, decided to combine the vodka with lemonade to quench spectators' thirst in the late summer heat. The Chambord adds a raspberry kick. In addition, since honeydew melons are at their peak in summer months, the tennis-y melon balls are an appropriate finishing touch.
As of the 2016 tournament, nearly a million Honey Deuces had been sold since the cocktail's inception (I know, right??) but here's how you can make it at home.
The Honey Duece
The Grey Goose and Chambord-filled Honey Deuce has been the event's trademark drink for 11 years running.
Serves: 1 | Active time: 5 minutes | Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
3 oz Grey Goose Vodka
2 oz Fresh squeezed lemonade
1/2 oz Chambord or premium raspberry liqueur
Ice
Frozen honeydew melons for garnish
Directions
1. Fill a chilled highball glass with ice and add Grey Goose vodka.
2. Top with lemonade and then add Chambord.
3. Garnish with skewer of honeydew melon balls ( note: place honeydew melon in freezer beforehand, then to create melon balls, use melon baller).
Even if you can't make it out to Flushing Meadows, you can order the cocktail at a few Manhattan bars like the Haven Rooftop, the Dream Downtown, PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown, 48 Lounge, Ascent Lounge, the Pierre, and the Four Seasons Hotel. So wherever you're imbibing, you can still pretend you're in the middle of Arthur Ashe Stadium sipping the US Open's official drink.
