The US Open Honey Deuce Recipe, the Market Mama Way

Your fruit box has officially entered its US Open era. 🎾

There are tennis traditions, and then there’s the Honey Deuce: the instantly recognizable US Open cocktail topped with three little honeydew melon balls that look suspiciously like tiny tennis balls.

And because we’re Market Mama, naturally we’re most interested in the part that comes from the produce aisle.

If there’s a honeydew sitting on your counter—or one just arrived in your Market Mama Fruit Box—this is your sign to break out the melon baller.

Here’s how to make a Honey Deuce cocktail at home, plus an easy zero-proof version for anyone who wants the fruit, fizz and US Open energy without the spirits.

What Is a Honey Deuce?

The Honey Deuce is the signature cocktail associated with the US Open tennis tournament. It’s a tart, slightly sweet combination of vodka, fresh lemonade and raspberry liqueur, finished with frozen honeydew melon balls.

The garnish is what makes it unmistakable: three pale green melon balls lined up above the glass like miniature tennis balls.

Cute? Extremely.

Complicated? Not even a little.

Mama’s Honey Deuce Recipe

Makes 1 cocktail

You’ll Need

• 1¼ oz vodka
• 3 oz fresh lemonade
• ½ oz raspberry liqueur
• 3 frozen honeydew melon balls
• Ice

How to Make a Honey Deuce

Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour in the vodka, fresh lemonade and raspberry liqueur. Give everything a good stir.

Finish with three frozen honeydew melon balls.

That’s it.

Game, set, sip.

Mama Note: Freeze the Honeydew

Do yourself a favor and make the melon balls ahead of time.

Scoop your honeydew with a melon baller, place the balls on a parchment-lined plate or tray and freeze until firm.

Not only does frozen honeydew create the classic Honey Deuce look, it also acts like a tiny edible ice cube without watering down your drink.

And yes, this is officially our favorite use for the melon baller hiding in the back of the kitchen drawer.

How to Make a Honey Deuce Mocktail

Not drinking? We still got you.

For a zero-proof Honey Deuce, skip the vodka and raspberry liqueur and combine:

• Fresh lemonade
• A splash of sparkling water
• A few muddled fresh raspberries
• 3 frozen honeydew melon balls
• Ice

You still get that tart raspberry-lemon flavor and the signature honeydew tennis-ball garnish—just without the spirits.

The Secret Is Good Fruit

The Honey Deuce may be famous as a cocktail, but the thing that makes it fun is ridiculously simple: fresh honeydew.

Choose a ripe melon, chill it well and freeze those little rounds before serving.

And if your weekend plans involve watching tennis from the couch rather than Arthur Ashe Stadium?

We support that.

Fruit box. Honeydew balls. Cold lemonade. Match on.

Very Market Mama.

If you grabbed this week’s Market Mama Fruit Box, you already have the best part of the recipe. The honeydew turns into the signature frozen melon-ball garnish, making this one of the easiest ways to turn your weekly fruit haul into an at-home US Open moment.

Bring Market Mama Home

21+ for the spirited version. Please sip responsibly.