How to Make a Honey Deuce—the $10 Million Cocktail Everyone Is Talking About

The signature drink of the U.S. Open is back after becoming one of the most popular sports drinks of all time. As tennis matches are underway, the Honey Deuce remains the go-to drink for former players (Serena Williams prefers hers with Cincoro tequila) and fans.

With sales expected to skyrocket beyond the $10 million mark this year, social media is wasting no time sharing what all the fuss is about. The drinks served at the U.S. Open come with a $23 price tag, but luckily it's pretty simple to make this refreshing, tennis-inspired cocktail yourself at home.

What Is the Honey Deuce Cocktail?

The Honey Deuce cocktail contains vodka (Grey Goose specifically), raspberry liqueur, lemonade, and melon balls. Sales for the iconic cocktail topped $10 million last year and are expected to increase this year due to the stark rise in attendance. Opening day alone set a single-day record with over 74,000 spectators.

In 2007, the drink was created by Nick Mautone of Grey Goose, and the company has been a tournament sponsor ever since. During their tenure (which has recently been extended), more than 2.2 million Honey Deuce cocktails have been sold. Each drink is served with a photo-worthy spike of green honeydew melon balls and a commemorative cup.

How to Make a Honey Deuce at Home

While you can order a canned version of the Honey Deuce, you can also craft the cocktail at home with a few ingredients and tools, using this recipe below from Grey Goose. The hardest part will be perfecting the melon ball topper.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ ounce vodka (Grey Goose preferred)
• ½ ounce raspberry liqueur (like Chambord)
• 3 ounces lemonade (homemade lemonade or store-bought)
• 1 ripe honeydew melon for melon balls

Steps

1. Cut honeydew melon in half and use a melon baller to scoop out three melon balls. 
2. Add melon balls to a long cocktail skewer. 
3. Fill a shaker with vodka, raspberry liqueur, and lemonade. 
4. Shake and pour the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice. 
5. Top with the melon ball skewer. 

Don't limit yourself to only this version—there are many variations to try, like using lemon-flavored vodka or orange liqueur instead of raspberry. If you don’t like vodka, try tequila or your spirit of choice. Also, if you aren't a fan of honeydew, substitute cantaloupe (which would be the perfect topper for a kid-friendly mocktail).