Honey Deuce Cocktail
If you’ve ever watched tennis in mid-summer heat and thought, ‘Wish I had one of those fancy pink drinks,’ you’re not alone. I remember the first time I tried the Honey Deuce cocktail—it was at home, nowhere near the US Open stands, and I ended up using a pasta spoon to scoop out melon balls (not exactly chef-grade). Honestly, I made a mess and had to mop the floor twice, but hey, every good drink has a story, right?
Why I Keep Coming Back to This Drink
I make this Honey Deuce when company comes over and I’m feeling a bit fancy, you know? My sister calls it ‘that pink Wimbledon drink’—which, alright, is the wrong tournament, but close enough. The color alone—sort of like the sun setting after a scorcher—gets oohs and aahs. And my husband? He only notices the vodka (figures). Sometimes the melon balls are wonky. I still serve it because nobody’s checking for perfect rounds; this isn’t MasterChef.
What You’ll Need (and What I Scramble For)
- 1.5 oz vodka (Doesn’t have to be top shelf—Tito’s or even that bottle in the back is fine.)
- 0.5 oz Chambord (I have definitely swapped raspberry liqueur when I’m out. Works in a pinch!)
- 3-4 oz fresh lemonade (Or from a carton. My grandma would side-eye but honestly it’s all lemonade.)
- Honeydew melon balls (or cantaloupe if the store’s out—or just cut-up chunks. No shame.)
- Ice (as much as fits in your glass, or toss in a few handfuls; I like it super cold)
Here’s How I Throw It Together
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Go wild—the colder, the better, though not as good for sensitive teeth.
- Pour the vodka and Chambord straight over the ice. Sometimes I eyeball it (probably more generous than 1.5 oz, whoops).
- Top it up with lemonade, about 3-4 ounces, but honestly I don’t measure. I pour until it’s the right shade of pink.
- Give everything a gentle swirl with a spoon. (This is where I sneak a taste. Quality control, you know?)
- Pop in a few honeydew melon balls. Or cubes! Nobody ever complains.
Don’t panic if it gets all foamy or the color looks off—mine sometimes does, but it settles!
Stuff I’ve Learned (Usually the Hard Way)
- If you try to use lemon-lime soda instead of lemonade, it’s…strange. Just trust me.
- Hand-scooped melon balls fly everywhere if you’re not careful. Actually, I find it works better if I chill the melon before scooping, though I forget half the time.
- Once I tried frozen melon balls. It sort of worked, but they turn hard as rocks and you’ll chase them around the glass for hours.
Mixing Things Up (Or Not)
I’ve tried a few twists. Once I swapped vodka for gin—kinda herbal but not my favorite. Another time, I muddled in some mint. Meh. Best success: use fresh-squeezed lemonade when you have time (or energy; let’s be honest, I usually don’t and it’s still tasty).
No Fancy Tools? No Big Deal
That melon baller? Great if you have one; if not, a teaspoon works. I spent a summer using the sharp end of a measuring spoon—it was odd but worked enough. Any tall glass will do—sure, those fancy glasses are nice, but a mason jar gives it more of a ‘picnic on the porch’ vibe (which I love).
Where to Stash Leftovers (If Any Exist)
You can store any leftovers in the fridge for about a day (maybe two, but the melon gets weird by then). Though honestly, in my house it never lasts more than a day! I sometimes just cover the pitcher with foil and call it good.
How I Like to Serve It (And My Family’s Odd Tradition)
I like to pile the melon balls on top and stick a long swizzle stick in there—looks snazzy and gives you something to poke at while chatting. My niece insists on drinking it with a curly straw; I say let them have fun with it. Oh, and once I served it with mini tennis rackets as stirrers for a themed party. Silly, but it broke the ice.
A Few ‘Pro’ Tips (Learned the Hard Way…Oops)
- Don’t use warm vodka straight from the cupboard. I tried that once…just, avoid it. Chill first or add extra ice (or both).
- I once rushed the melon prep and ended up with juice everywhere; chill out, take your time, seriously.
- Mixing too vigorously makes the lemonade fizz rise up and overflow. Half my kitchen floor was sticky last time I did this.
Questions People Ask Me (Or Text Me While Making This)
Can I make a big pitcher of this for a party?
Absolutely, just multiply the amounts by how many people you’re serving. One time I eyeballed it and it was more vodka than lemonade—folks didn’t mind so much, but maybe measure if you want to remember the evening. Here’s a solid party batch idea on Food & Wine if you want proportions.
What if I can’t find Chambord?
No sweat. Any raspberry liqueur will do. I’ve even seen people use fresh raspberries and a splash of simple syrup—works in a pinch!
Can kids have the melon balls?
Well, technically yes, but maybe leave out any drippy cocktail juice! My nephew loves eating the extras; on second thought, I suppose I can’t guarantee none of mine had traces of vodka… maybe keep a separate bowl.
Is this actually the same drink as at the US Open?
Pretty close, though I’m pretty sure those are poured by pros who never spill (unlike me). Tastes just as good at home.
Oh, and if you want to nerd out on tennis drinks (I definitely did one late night), check out the in-depth history at Tennis Companion. They get into the weeds and it’s oddly fascinating.
Alright, grab your vodka, find a melon, and make yourself a Honey Deuce. Here’s to sipping like the spectators, even if we’re just on the couch with Netflix.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 0.5 oz raspberry liqueur (such as Chambord)
- 3 oz fresh lemonade
- 3 honeydew melon balls (for garnish)
- Ice cubes
- Lemon wedge (optional, for garnish)
- Fresh mint sprig (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
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1Chill a highball or Collins glass by filling it with ice.
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2Add the vodka and raspberry liqueur to the glass.
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3Pour in the fresh lemonade and stir gently to combine.
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4Using a melon baller, scoop out 3 honeydew melon balls for garnish.
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5Garnish the cocktail with the honeydew melon balls by skewering them on a cocktail pick and placing them on top of the drink. Optionally, add a lemon wedge or mint sprig for extra freshness.
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6Serve immediately and enjoy chilled.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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