The Honey Deuce cocktail, which made its debut at the U.S. Open in 2006, is arguably as popular today as the tennis tournament itself.
Example: awkward moment The incident occurred during a broadcast this week, when a man was returning to his seat with two cocktails — one of which was presumably meant for the woman sitting in the row next to him — but another man sitting in the row behind him beat him to it.
But if not for the purchase of a man Honeydew Melon Balls A few years ago, ahead of a weekend in the Hamptons, the signature U.S. Open cocktail didn’t look anything like it does today.
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Fox News Digital spoke with mixologist and hospitality industry consultant Nick Mottone, who serves as Grey Goose Vodka’s brand ambassador, to discuss the beverage’s birth.
Mautone, a New York native who now lives in Seattle, said he was tasked with creating a new cocktail. US Open When Grey Goose became the official beverage sponsor in 2006.
The Honey Deuce is the signature cocktail of the US Open. It is the brainchild of mixologist Nick Mautone, a New York native, shown at right. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images; Nick Mautone)
When Mouton was driving home to the Hamptons, he stopped to pick up a few items to make a dessert salad he wanted to serve for his guests.
were on the grocery list Honeydew Melon Balls,
“Immediately there was lightning, and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, these look just like tennis balls,'” Mouton told Fox News Digital.
“Oh my god, these look just like tennis balls.”
“So, from that moment on, I knew this was the garnish that was non-negotiable.”
Mouton presented it to the Grey Goose brand team, who loved the garnish; they also talked to US Open staff.
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“The food service people weren’t too excited about the idea of making countless honeydew melon balls,” Mautone said.
That remained the case until he found a company that “makes millions of cantaloupe balls every day and ships them fresh to the U.S. Open.”
The US Open’s Honey Deuce is made with Grey Goose vodka, fresh lemonade and a “drop” of Chambord black raspberry liqueur. Honeydew melon balls provide the garnish. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
Mouton played with “a few iterations”. Cocktail At first this included a version that used blackberry liqueur, then the final recipe was decided upon.
It consists of Grey Goose vodka, fresh lemonade, a “drop” of Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur, and, of course, Honeydew Melon Balls.
Mouton said the goal was to avoid creating “too much” risk. Complex drinks So that bartenders can serve it without getting disappointed.”
“You see, it’s become a cultural icon.”
“It’s a very simple two- or three-step process for a bartender to make a drink,” he said, adding that he’s “also completely hooked on a long drink.”
Since the tournament will be played in New York in August, Mouton “didn’t want anything too alcoholic, because it contains a lot of alcohol and it’s not nice to drink in the heat.”
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Mouton said he believes customers are “starting to get bored.” with beer and other drinks” – so the Honey Deuce came at the right time.
“Look, it’s become a cultural icon,” Mautone said.
The inspiration for the Honey Deuce cocktail came from honeydew melon balls, which look like tiny tennis balls. (Grey Goose; iStock)
He said the credit goes to “old-fashioned guerrilla marketing.”
“it went viral,” He said.
This cocktail was created before Instagram existed and social media was also in its infancy at the time – so the Honey Deuce didn’t gain fame outside of Queens, New York until much later.
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“It’s become a cultural phenomenon because of social media, especially the honeydew melon balls, which I think a lot of people see as a great decoration at a tennis match,” Mouton said.
“So it’s become an Instagram-worthy drink that’s very friendly, very refreshing and inviting.”
The Honey Deuce has been the signature cocktail at the U.S. Open since Grey Goose became the beverage sponsor in 2006. (Grey Goose)
Honey Deuce has been in the news recently due to its price increase, and it has reached $23.
It sold for $22 at last year’s tournament.
Mouton said he believes the beverage, which comes with a souvenir cup, is reasonably priced.
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“If I was in midtown Manhattan or at one of the best craft cocktail bars in Brooklyn and ordered a craft cocktail, I’d be paying $18,” he said.
“So, when you say $23, that’s not much for the experience you’re getting, to me, it’s one of the greatest sporting events in the country.”
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Mouton said he plans to compete at the U.S. Open.
And when asked if they intended to order a Honey Deuce while they were there, their answer was an emphatic: “Absolutely.”
