The Honey Deuce cocktail, featuring Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur, garnished with three honeydew melon balls, has become an iconic part of the US Open experience. In 2025 alone, fans purchased 738,459 Honey Deuces, generating over $17 million in sales. The drink, which debuted in 2007, has seen a significant price increase from $12 to $23 per cocktail, reflecting its growing popularity alongside the tournament's increasing attendance, which surpassed one million spectators for the second consecutive year in 2025.
The creation of the Honey Deuce was commissioned by Grey Goose in 2006, with restaurateur and mixologist Nick Mautone developing the recipe. He experimented with multiple versions before settling on the current combination, inspired by honeydew melon balls resembling tennis balls. The cocktail's success is not just in its taste but also in its presentation: each drink comes in a commemorative cup featuring the names of past US Open champions, which has become a collectible item, sometimes reselling for $10 to $20 individually or $100 for a set of six.
The logistical operation behind the Honey Deuce is extensive. For the 2026 tournament, 8,000 cases of honeydew melons, filling eight semi-trucks, are transported from California to Queens, New York. Baldor Specialty Foods, led by Jared Walton, orchestrates this supply chain, ensuring a constant provision of honeydew. Over 2.4 million melon balls are hand-scooped by a team of 20-plus employees using 500 melon ballers, starting at 5:45 AM daily. Despite the perishable nature of the melon balls, with a maximum shelf life of five days, the meticulous planning ensures a continuous supply, sometimes utilizing refrigerated trailers onsite.
Since its debut, more than 3.5 million Honey Deuces have been sold. The drink's success is partly attributed to the simplicity of its recipe, allowing for efficient production at scale, and its status as a social media phenomenon. The US Open now also sells related merchandise, such as Honey Deuce T-shirts and hats for $48 each, further cementing its cultural impact beyond just a beverage. The collaboration between Grey Goose and the USTA has transformed the Honey Deuce into a significant revenue driver and a beloved tradition.
