Nick Mautone created the Honey Deuce as a signature cocktail for the US Open after noticing honeydew melon balls that resembled tennis balls. The drink blends berries, citrus, melon, a hint of rosemary, and Grey Goose vodka to produce a spiked raspberry-lemonade profile. The cocktail visually nods to tennis yet remains pleasant on the palate and ideal for late-summer sipping. The Honey Deuce achieved broad popularity, with Grey Goose reporting nearly three million sold since 2007 and over 550,000 enjoyed during the 2024 tournament. The official recipe, serving variations, and necessary gear are provided for home preparation.
As the story goes, inspiration struck Mautone when he was creating a fruity dessert for a dinner party he was hosting at his home in Hampton Bays (as one does). "I was at the kitchen counter making these honeydew melon balls and I just said to my wife, 'Oh my God, these look like tennis balls,'" Mautone says. He borrowed the flavor profile from his dessert-berries, citrus, melon, and a hint of rosemary-added the required Grey Goose vodka, and, Voilà! The Honey Deuce.
Is it on the nose to serve a cocktail that literally looks like sporting equipment at a Grand Slam tournament? Absolutely. But lucky for Grey Goose and for tennis fans, the Honey Deuce is also delightful on the palate. What better to sip on a late summer afternoon or evening than, essentially, a spiked raspberry lemonade? Millions agree, making the Honey Deuce a hit:
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