US Open Honey Deuce: 738,459 Cocktails Sold for $17 Million in Sales

The Honey Deuce cocktail generated over $17 million in sales during the 2025 US Open, with fans consuming 738,459 drinks at $23 each.

During the 2025 US Open, bartenders served 738,459 Honey Deuce cocktails, generating more than $17 million in revenue. Priced at $23 per drink, the signature beverage has seen a price increase of over 90% since its 2007 debut, when 24,000 units were sold at $12 each. The tournament, which saw attendance surpass 1,145,000 spectators last year, now utilizes the cocktail as a primary revenue driver, with sales increasing 20% to 30% year-over-year since the expansion of Fan Week. For the 2026 event, USTA COO Daniel Zausner and his team have ordered 800,000 commemorative souvenir cups to meet projected demand.

Each cocktail features a specific garnish of three honeydew melon balls, measured at approximately 1.57 inches in diameter. To meet the requirement for the 2026 tournament, 8,000 cases of melons—enough to fill eight semi-trucks—travel three to four days from Turlock Fruit Company in California to Queens, New York. Jared Walton, director of national accounts for Baldor Specialty Foods, oversees the production of over 2.4 million melon balls. The volume of fruit ordered for the three-week event would stretch the length of nearly three football fields if lined up single file on pallets.

Recipe Origins and Ingredients

Created by mixologist Nick Mautone in 2006, the Honey Deuce consists of Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, and a drizzle of raspberry liqueur. Mautone, a former US Open barback who hauled ice in his early 20s, developed the recipe after finding inspiration from melon balls in a summer salad at his Long Island home. The drink debuted in 2007 after Mautone tinkered with five to six variations. The name refers to the 40-40 tie in tennis scoring, though Mautone also considered titles such as '30 Love' and 'Courtside.' The latter rejected version included rosemary citrus syrup and fresh lemon juice.

Daniel Zausner initiated the search for a signature drink after observing the popularity of the mint julep at the Kentucky Derby. Seeking to replicate the fervor seen at Churchill Downs, Zausner requested a vodka sponsor to establish a brand identity for the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The resulting pink, tart, and sweet beverage was designed for simplicity to reduce wait times in concession lines while maintaining the ability to be replicated at a massive scale.

Logistics and Hand-Scooped Production

The supply chain for the garnish begins six months before the tournament when Walton calculates planting needs with California farmers. Because the melon balls have a maximum shelf life of five days, Baldor Specialty Foods utilizes a refrigerated trailer onsite in Queens. A team of more than 20 employees begins work at 5:45 a.m. daily, using 500 manual melon ballers to hand-scoop the fruit. There are no machines used in this process, ensuring each garnish resembles a miniature tennis ball.

While the drink itself is perishable, the clear commemorative cups have become high-value souvenirs. These vessels, which list previous US Open winners, currently retail for $14 a pair at the official shop, but secondary market prices on eBay range from $10 to $20 for single units and up to $100 for a set of six. During the 2020 pandemic, when fans were barred from attendance, the USTA distributed 50,000 spare cups as one of the few available souvenirs from that year’s tournament.

Cultural Impact and Merchandise

Grey Goose global vice president of marketing Aleco Azqueta notes that the cocktail has become a tournament accessory, drawing comparisons to the popularity of friendship bracelets during the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. High-profile fans pictured with the drink include Bruce Springsteen, Kendall Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Taylor Swift. This visibility has spurred a dedicated merchandise line, including $48 T-shirts and hats, $40 scented candles, $24 towels, and $26 branded melon ballers. Fans frequently cite the cocktail as a primary objective upon entering the gates, often seeking the nearest Grey Goose location immediately after inquiring about player practice courts.