Drink like you're sitting court-side in Queens with our complete breakdown of the four official cocktails of the US Open.
Every late summer, the sports world turns its absolute focus toward Queens for the final Grand Slam of the tennis calendar: the US Open. Originally established in 1881 as the U.S. National Championship, the tournament has evolved from an exclusive grass-court gathering into a high-octane, two-week spectacle played across the iconic hard courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. Running late August through mid-September, it’s a tournament defined by historic late-night Arthur Ashe Stadium thrillers—from Jimmy Connors’ improbable 1991 run to the dominant eras of Serena Williams and Roger Federer.
As we dive deep into main-draw play this year, the storylines courtside are as electrifying as ever. Next-gen titans Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner continue their high-stakes tug-of-war for global dominance, while breakout American stars are pushing to keep the home crowd roaring into the second week. But as any tennis fan knows, surviving the blistering late-summer heat of Flushing Meadows requires a strategic beverage game plan.
While the tennis is world-class, the official cocktail ecosystem at Arthur Ashe Stadium has become a multi-million-dollar culture all its own. Here is the breakdown of the four official drinks dominating the tournament grounds, ordered from the long-standing classics to the newest court-side pours, along with their history and how to mix them at home.
1. The Honey Deuce
- Year Introduced: 2006 — Debuting the same year Roger Federer defended his crown against Andy Roddick in the men's final and Maria Sharapova captured her first US Open title.
- History & Origins: Created by mixologist Nick Mautone for Grey Goose, the Honey Deuce was crafted to give the US Open a signature drink on par with the Kentucky Derby’s Mint Julep. It rapidly transformed from a courtside luxury into a financial juggernaut, generating well over $17 million in a single fortnight for the USTA. Served in a souvenir cup listing past singles champions, its unmistakable signature is a skewer of frozen honeydew melon balls shaped to look like mini tennis balls.
- The Vibe: The undisputed stadium heavyweight.
- Key Ingredients: Vodka, fresh lemonade, Chambord raspberry liqueur, and honeydew melon balls.
- Make It: See Our Full Honey Deuce Recipe
2. The Watermelon Slice
- Year Introduced: 2021 — Launching during the historic tournament where teenage qualifier Emma Raducanu shocked the world by winning the title without dropping a single set.
- History & Origins: Debuted as a high-roller contender to challenge the Honey Deuce’s reign, the Watermelon Slice quickly turned into a viral stadium hit. Built on a base of Champagne and elderflower liqueur paired with fresh watermelon juice, it captures late-August hydration in a glass. Originally introduced with a hefty tournament sticker price, it delivers a sweet, vibrant, fruit-forward profile that tastes like high-end summer in Queens.
- The Vibe: Bubbly, juicy, high-heat summer fuel.
- Key Ingredients: Champagne (or Brut sparkling wine), St-Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh watermelon juice, lime juice, and a fresh watermelon wedge.
- Make It: See Our Full Watermelon Slice Recipe
3. Maestro Dobel Ace Paloma
- Year Introduced: 2023 — Hitting the stadium floor the very same year Coco Gauff rallied the Arthur Ashe crowd to capture her magical first Grand Slam singles title.
- History & Origins: The Ace Paloma has officially taken center stage at Flushing Meadows as tennis fans look beyond vodka and Champagne for high-heat tournament fuel. Born out of Maestro Dobel’s historic partnership as the first official tequila of the US Open, the Ace Paloma arrived to give tequila lovers a crisp, heavy-hitting alternative to traditional vodka highballs. Built on Maestro Dobel Diamante—a Cristalino tequila crafted by charcoal-filtering aged reposados and añejos back to crystal clarity—the drink balances rich oak and vanilla notes with snappy grapefruit soda and a striking black lava salt rim. The cocktail is also remarkably adaptable at home: swapping in a quality Blanco keeps it bright and citrus-forward, while a pour of smooth Reposado brings that signature caramel-backed depth straight to your glass.
- The Vibe: Sharp, oak-backed, high-end stadium refresher.
- Key Ingredients: Tequila (Cristalino, Blanco, or Reposado), fresh lime juice, pink grapefruit soda, and a black lava salt rim.
- Make It: See Our Full Ace Paloma Recipe
4. The Moët Serve
- Year Introduced: 2026 — Arriving right on cue as young legends Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner usher in a bold new era of championship dominance at Flushing Meadows.
- History & Origins: Debuting as the newest official addition to the tournament lineup, the Moët Serve is Moët & Chandon’s answer to high-volume, court-side luxury. Served pre-canned in a clear sleeve built to resemble a three-pack of tennis balls, the drink was specifically engineered around Moët’s Ice Impérial—a dosage-heavy Champagne crafted specifically to be poured directly over heavy ice without losing its structural integrity or flavor as it dilutes.
- The Vibe: Elevated high-low court-side crushability.
- Key Ingredients: Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial Champagne, fresh lime juice, and a lime wheel.
- Make It: See Our Full Moët Serve Recipe
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