How to Make a Honey Deuce Cocktail, the U.S. Open's Signature Drink

It's hard to mention the U.S. Open tennis tournament without talking about the event's signature cocktail. The Honey Deuce has been an essential part of the U.S. Open experience since 2007. And the man who created it, former Grey Goose ambassador and restauranteur Nick Mautone, was inspired by the light and refreshing taste of honeydew melons for the iconic drink—and it didn't hurt that, when scooped, the fruit resembled the bright green tennis balls that fly up and down the court.

Frances Tiafoe, a semi-finalist at the tournament in 2022 and 2024, likes to kick off the annual competition with a Honey Deuce. "The list of legends who have their name on the cup is also one of my favorite things about a Honey Deuce," Tiafoe told Esquire in 2024. "I love seeing the fans sipping on Honey Deuces in Ashe while I’m on court. The energy at the US Open is different, and the Honey Deuce is part of the magic." More recently, Tiafoe was glad to stop by on a break from his tear through the Men's Singles games and give us a step by step tutorial for making the perfect Honey Deuce, which you can watch below.

"One of the reasons the hype around the Grey Goose Honey Deuce has remained over the years is because the cocktail is only available for a very specific few weeks in late August into early September," Aleco Azqueta, Grey Goose North America Vice President of Marketing tells us. Good point. His exclusive tip for leveling up your Honey Deuce is to "take a melon baller and scoop out three balls for every cocktail you plan to make. These can then be frozen overnight and served the next day." Even multiple time grand slam-winner Serena Williams had to try it for herself for the first time in 2024.

If your viewing experience looks more like being tucked into your couch with some friends, that doesn't mean you have to miss out on enjoying this essential part of the U.S. Open. The Honey Deuce is not only an ace in terms of flavor, but it's also simple enough to recreate at home no matter how far you are from the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. And if you do reside near all the action, you could sip on a Honey Deuce for free at the "Last Serve Bar" Grand Central Terminal pop-up bar. You can grab a free Honey Deuce on Aug. 27-29 from 5—8 p.m. and 10 p.m.—1 a.m. each day.