The start of the US Open brings the return of the tournament’s most sought-after adult beverage, which is getting even more expensive this year.
For fans at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center over the next two weeks, the popular Honey Deuce cocktail will cost $23, one more dollar than it did 12 months ago. During the 2023 tournament, more than 450,000 Honey Deuces were sold at $22 a pop—good for nearly $10 million in sales.
That record total was an 11% increase over Honey Deuce sales in 2022. And with this year’s expected record attendance, it should be bottoms up for cocktail connoisseurs enjoying the final Grand Slam of the year in person.
As part of Grey Goose’s sponsorship deal with the US Open, the Honey Deuce is officially the tournament’s signature cocktail, made with vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and honeydew melon balls, all inside a commemorative cup.
Cocktail Wars?
Grey Goose has been placing the Honey Deuce on hundreds of restaurant and bar menus throughout New York City, according to its website, in a likely effort to push the drink’s demand even higher. But it has a challenger at the US Open.
If vodka isn’t your liquor of choice, Maestro Dobel Tequila is bringing back its Ace Paloma, which debuted last year. Like its vodka counterpart, the tequila cocktail costs one more dollar than it did last year, now running $21. Sales figures from 2023 weren’t released.
Maestro Dobel is selling $69.99 at-home kits of the Ace Paloma, which is made of tequila, lime, grapefruit soda, a dehydrated grapefruit slice, and a black-salt rim, also in a US Open souvenir cup.
