Celebrating 20 years of the Honey Deuce: The R370 drink that defines the US Open
· The South African
The Honey Deuce may have begun life in restauranteur and mixologist Nick Mautone’s kitchen, but two decades later its cult status has grown into something few cocktails ever achieve: a drink so famous that it overshadows the tennis it was designed to accompany.
Wander through the bustling concourses at the US Open and you’ll inevitably witness a quintessentially Flushing Meadows spectacle: thousands of spectators balancing towering stacks of acrylic Honey Deuce cups – a viral tradition known as Honey Deuce “jenga”.
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The pink‑purple cocktail, topped with three honeydew melon balls, has become as recognisable as the blue courts themselves.
Watched the drink transform
At the heart of this phenomenon is the man who has overseen its rise for the past decade.
Daniel Velez Gomez, manager of the US Open’s main Honey Deuce concession bar, has watched the drink transform from a hand‑crafted novelty into a multimillion‑dollar cultural juggernaut.
The South African’s Amisha Savani spoke to Gomez on a bustling afternoon on Day 2 of this year’s tournament.
“This is my house. This is my baby,” Gomez says proudly.
“My bar can make any drink you want, but my goal is to see everybody with one Honey Deuce in their hands.”
From fruit salad to cult status
The drink’s origin story is now US Open folklore.
Created in 2006 after the USTA commissioned Mautone to design a tennis‑themed cocktail, the Honey Deuce was born out of serendipity.
While preparing a fruit salad, Mautone noticed that scooped honeydew melon spheres resembled tennis balls – and a star was born.
The cocktail – Grey Goose vodka, lemonade and Chambord raspberry liqueur, topped with three melon balls – has since inspired a merchandising empire: caps, t‑shirts, cushions, fridge magnets, pins and even scented candles.
The shift to draft & 2025 prices
Still priced at $23 (R370), the Honey Deuce has undergone a major behind‑the‑scenes evolution.
Gone are the days of bartenders hand‑pouring vodka and lemonade into shakers.
Today, a dual‑keg draft tap system keeps queues moving.
“We have two kegs: one is lemonade, one is vodka,” Gomez explains.
The mix is poured from the tap, before bartenders add the signature Chambord float and the trio of melon balls by hand.
“People love lemonade, people love vodka,” he says.
“And it’s a signature drink for the Open. Even if you don’t like it, I always tell people, try it out.”
The souvenir glass that launched thousands of TikToks
The refreshing cocktail, a mix of sweet lemonade, tart raspberry, and cooling melon has created a frenzy driven by the commemorative acrylic cup.
Printed with the US Open logo and a list of past champions, the cup has become a badge of honour for fans attending the Open.
“I see people who don’t even drink, but they want the glass,” Gomez says.
“People ask to buy empty cups, but we don’t sell them empty. I want to see product in there! Empty or full, it’s $23.”
Last year, the US Open sold 738 459 Honey Deuces, generating an estimated $16.98 million in gross sales.
But the glass shortage that hits every second week isn’t caused by supply chain issues – it’s deliberate.
“The situation isn’t that they run out of glasses; the glasses are reclaimed by Grey Goose for their official site,” Gomez reveals.
“Because the year is stamped on the glass, they’d rather go short than end up with leftover garbage once the tournament ends.”
For those lucky enough to collect them, Gomez offers a warning: “Don’t put them in the dishwasher. They’re acrylic, they will crack!”
Even the pros stash them
Players are just as obsessed.
Last year, South Africa’s Lloyd Harris was gifted two Honey Deuce glasses by The South African.
When teased that he could use them for protein shakes, he laughed: “I want the real thing!”
And when asked if he’d give them to friends or family, he was emphatic: “They’re going straight into my apartment!”
Looking to the future
With wellness trends rising, I ask Gomez whether a zero‑alcohol Honey Deuce might be coming.
“I think there is a potential, and they could make a lot of money,” he admits – though no plans exist yet.
A new contender
The Honey Deuce isn’t the only drink vying for attention.
Maestro Dobel Tequila’s Paloma: tequila, lime, grapefruit juice and black salt is gaining traction.
“Before we had Aperol Spritz,” Gomez says.
“Now it’s gone, because they wanted to push Paloma. They want to push just tequila and vodka.”
And yes, the Paloma has its own collectible glass, though without the Honey Deuce’s historical detail.
Unsurprisingly, Gomez has his own stash at home from the past decade, with any spares sent to his mother.
The Honey Deuce remains the undisputed king of Flushing Meadows. The tennis may be world‑class, but the Honey Deuce is the show that everyone drinks.
Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively for The South African from the 2026 US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York