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Honey Deuce Cocktail Recipe photo by Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home
Honey Deuce Cocktail Recipe photo by Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home
The official drink of the US Open is clever, tart and sweet—and easy to replicate at home. The honey deuce cocktail is proof that great sips and great tennis are all about the perfect serve.
The honey deuce cocktail is a guaranteed “ace” when it comes to entertaining during US Open season. This crisp, colorful and chic apertif has been the official drink of the US Open since 2006, but it’s incredibly easy to make for watch parties at home too. The delightful mix of vodka, lemonade and raspberry liqueur looks as good as it tastes, but the real showstopper is the garnish: honeydew melon balls that look like miniature tennis balls. This little detail levels up the drink from a cute courtside cocktail to a VIP suite sipper.
Whether you’re hosting the whole tennis club after a hard-fought doubles match or just kicking back solo with ESPN, the honey deuce makes you look like a bartending pro. It’s a drink that serves style, flavor and a perfect backhand of bragging rights without making you chase down a single rogue ball—unless you prep your garnish with a little too much spin.
Honey Deuce Cocktail Ingredients
- Ice cubes: These chill the drink without diluting the flavor too quickly. Use large, clear ice cubes if you want your drink to stay icy and photogenic for longer.
- Vodka: The original recipe traditionally uses a clean, neutral vodka like Grey Goose, which allows the citrus and raspberry flavors to shine.
- Lemonade: Store-bought lemonade is fine, but if you want a truly elevated sip, try making homemade lemonade. It lets you create a personalized balance of tartness and sweetness.
- Raspberry liqueur: Chambord is the classic choice here. It floats gently into the drink and adds a jewel-toned hue and sweet berry complexity.
- Honeydew melon balls: These adorable little spheres mimic tennis balls and give the drink its iconic look. Chill or freeze them ahead of time if you (and your drink) are super cool.
Directions
Step 1: Fill a glass with ice, and add vodka and lemonade
Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home
Fill a highball glass with ice. Top with the vodka. Add the lemonade.
Step 2: Add the liqueur
Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home
Add the raspberry liqueur to the glass. Stir to combine.
Editor’s Tip: Want an extra aesthetic boost? Chill the raspberry liqueur ahead of time and pour the thick liquid over a bar spoon to create pretty layers.
Step 3: Garnish with melon balls
Thread three honeydew melon balls onto a cocktail skewer and rest it against the edge of the glass.
Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home
Honey Deuce Cocktail Variations
- Serve up a boozy slushy: Blend the ingredients with ice for a frozen version that’s perfect for hot summer days.