Grey Goose Creates US Open’s Signature Cocktail In New, Limited Edition RTD

2022-09-25 00:44:01 By : Ms. Sunny Wei

As the US Open enters its second week, and the leaderboard is certainly still shifting, off the court, there’s already a winner in my eyes.

This year, for the first time the US Open’s signature cocktail — the Honey Deuce built with Grey Goose vodka, fresh lemonade, raspberry liqueur and topped with two melon balls for garnish — is available in a canned version for fans watching from home.

“Just as the mint julep is integral to the Kentucky Derby, so is the Grey Goose Honey Deuce to the US Open,” Aleco Azqueta, vice president of marketing at Grey Goose, told Forbes.

The Honey Deuce cocktail has been a definitive part of the US Open fan experience since 2006, when sponsor Grey Goose collaborated with Gramercy Tavern’s Nick Mautone to create a vodka beverage for the tournament. Azqueta explained that in the past 16 years the brand’s explored ways to grow the excitement of the in-person experience at home, including previously run cocktail kits, but this year they wanted to make it even easier to enjoy the classic cocktail.

“We wanted to take it one step further to create a Honey Deuce that’s truly ready-to-drink; it’s served pre-mixed and chilled, delivered right to your doorstep, so all you have to do is open, sip, and enjoy,” said Azqueta.

The limited edition Honey Deuce is sold as a four-pack with four metal straws and an insulated tote to ensure the cans arrive chilled and ready to crack. As for the packaging, Azqueta explains that Grey Goose was inspired by the commemorative cups that the drinks are served in at the Arthur Ashe stadium. He says the cups, which list all the previous US Open champions, are as much of a fixture of the US Open as the Honey Deuce itself and that’s replicated in the portable, functional eight-ounce cans of the RTD version.

“We really wanted the cans to resemble the commemorative cups sold in the stadium as closely as possible, since they’re such a coveted souvenir that fans love. It’s a way to make fans at home feel like they’re sipping courtside,” emphasized Azqueta.

The canned Honey Deuce is available exclusively via Cocktail Courier, an online delivery service, which Azqueta says makes it even easier to sip on-demand, however, the cans are only shipping across New York City through the final round of the tournament.

“For New Yorkers, the US Open is so much more than just a sporting event; it’s one of the city’s major cultural touchstones. Everyone gets involved in the US Open in New York, whether they’re attending the matches at the stadium or not,” explained Azqueta.

Though the cans are exclusive to NYC this year, Azqueta teased that Grey Goose is continuously exploring new ways to bring the Honey Deuce to fans cheering from home, which might just mean they have some tricks up their sleeves for next year.