US Open's Honey Deuce Gets a Martini Makeover

The Honey Deuce, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open, has become more than just a drink — it’s a tournament tradition. Nearly 740,000 of the $23 cocktails were sold at the 2025 tournament, generating close to $17 million in revenue. The vodka-based drink, garnished with honeydew melon balls resembling tiny tennis balls, is instantly recognizable and beloved by fans. This annual staple has evolved into a cultural touchstone, with some drinkers seeking fresh interpretations while others prefer its classic sweetness.

A Martini Makeover for a Tournament Icon

While the original Honey Deuce leans heavily on sweetness, thanks to Chambord and lemonade, some drinkers find it overly sugary. One New York City bar has reimagined the cocktail with a spirit-forward twist. St. Cloud Rooftop at The Knickerbocker serves a Honey Deuce martini that maintains the drink’s signature flavors while dialing back the sweetness. The bar’s version was inspired by its own history, as The Knickerbocker claims to be the birthplace of the Dry Martini, making a reimagined Honey Deuce feel like a natural fit.

Chris Miller, the hotel’s director of food and beverage, said the goal was to preserve the recognizable taste of the original while giving it a more refined cocktail-bar treatment. “The result gives the drink a little more elegance while still being fun and immediately recognizable,” Miller said. The key to the martini version lies in balance. Miller emphasized using fresh lemon juice instead of lemonade to cut through the sweetness of the Chambord and honey syrup. He also advised keeping the honeydew garnish; those small green “tennis balls” remain essential for visual recognition.

For those hosting a watch party, Miller suggested batching the vodka, Chambord, and honey syrup ahead of time and adding the lemon juice just before serving. The honeydew garnish can be prepped in advance and frozen, helping keep each cocktail cold without extra ice. This approach ensures consistent flavor while minimizing last-minute prep stress for hosts.

A Sober Twist on a Classic

For fans avoiding alcohol, a homemade mocktail version captures the Honey Deuce’s fruity profile without the vodka. Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger herbal tea makes an especially good stand-in for raspberry liqueur. Brewing it extra strong gives the drink a lush raspberry flavor and a pleasantly astringent quality that helps mimic some of the complexity you’d normally get from alcohol. Build it in a tall glass, or, as I like to do, break out that U.S. Open souvenir cup sitting in your kitchen cabinet.

Watch Party Tips from a Cocktail Pro

Hosting a U.S. Open watch party? Batching cocktails ahead saves time without sacrificing quality. Pre-freezing honeydew melon balls on picks keeps them ready and chilled. To serve, portion the batched mixture into a shaker with ice for each drink, shake until well-chilled, and strain into properly cooled martini glasses. The frozen garnish doubles as a cooling agent, eliminating the need for extra ice that could dilute the cocktail.

Mocktail Magic Without the Alcohol

This version is especially easy to batch ahead for a U.S. Open watch party. You can make the tea-lemonade base in advance, chill it, and simply top each glass with club soda when it’s time to serve.