Honey Deuce Cocktail

This Honey Deuce Cocktail recipe is light and refreshing, and it’s also one of the easiest cocktails you can make. No shaker or bar equipment needed!

As you could probably guess from the cocktail lineup on my blog—Palomas and Cadillac Margaritas and Rosé Sangria, oh my!—I am a bit of a cocktail aficionado. But if you’re more of a dabbler, looking for a cocktail you can make for a party or an evening on the patio with your favorite neighbor, the honey deuce cocktail is IT.

Here’s why I like it: you don’t need a full bar to pull it off—just pick up some vodka and raspberry liqueur at the liquor store. Easy. You also don’t need a cocktail shaker, strainer, or any other bar equipment—and if you don’t have highball glasses, any glass will work. (Or hey, got red Solo cups? Those are fine too.)

Now that we’ve gone over the logistics of the honey deuce cocktail, let’s talk about the important part—the flavor. It’s basically a boozy raspberry lemonade. The melon balls are meant to mimic tennis balls because this is the official drink of the US Open, and while you could leave them out and just enjoy the raspberry lemonade-ness of it all, booze-soaked-melon-balls are truly one of the simple pleasures of life, so I highly recommend going all in here.

Ingredients for a Honey Deuce Cocktail

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.

• Vodka – Just a basic unflavored vodka here. Nothing fancy!
• Fresh Lemonade – I like to use this Homemade Lemonade Recipe.
• Premium Raspberry Liqueur – Like Chambord. (For another simple drink you can make with Chambord, try a Kir Royale.)
• Honeydew Melon Balls – If you’re not particularly attached to the tennis theme of this drink, watermelon balls would be fabulous too.

How to Make a Honey Deuce Cocktail

You are mere minutes away from a refreshing, summery cocktail! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

1. Add the vodka. Pour the vodka over ice cubes in a chilled highball glass.
2. Top it off. Top with the raspberry liqueur and lemonade.
3. Finish. Skewer the honeydew and add it to the drink for garnish.

Honey Deuce Variations

You can stick with the original and it will be fantastic, or play around with some of these variations.

• Try a flavored vodka. While plain vodka is great, you can experiment with different flavored vodkas to add a twist to the classic honey deuce cocktail. 
• Swap out the lemonade. Instead of using traditional lemonade, try using Brazilian Lemonade or limeade.
• Make it fizzy. For a bubbly version of this cocktail, replace the lemonade with a sparkling lemonade.
• Add some herbs. Muddle mint or even basil leaves in the glass before adding the other ingredients for an extra burst of freshness.

What to Serve With a Honey Deuce Cocktail

• Cucumber Sandwiches
• Burrata Caprese
• Honey Ricotta Peach Crostini with Crispy Pancetta
• Whipped Feta Dip
• Citrus Avocado Salad
• Grilled Lemon Chicken

More Cocktail Recipes

• Blackberry Margarita
• Transfusion Drink
• The Best Champagne Cocktail
• Sherbet Mimosa Float Recipe
• Lemonade Gin Mojito Cocktail Recipe
• Cranberry Moscow Mule
• Tom Collins (Gin Sour Cocktail)
• Bees Knees Cocktail
• Spiced Blood Orange Dark and Stormy Cocktail Recipe

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