Mulligan aims to topple Honey Deuce as Ryder Cup debuts caffeinated bourbon cocktail
At the Ryder Cup, a bourbon-based riff on the Arnold Palmer seeks to outpace the U.S. Open’s iconic Honey Deuce
The Mulligan is taking center stage at the 2025 Ryder Cup as organizers push a bourbon-based riff on the Arnold Palmer to challenge the U.S. Open’s iconic Honey Deuce. The Honey Deuce has posted about $17 million in sales at this year’s Open, according to the U.S. Tennis Association. The cocktail, a mix of Elijah Craig bourbon, green tea, lemonade and soda water, debuted at the PGA Finals in 2024 and has become a morning-friendly favorite for fans seeking a caffeinated edge. At the Ryder Cup, the Mulligan is being served at tournament pop-ups around Rockefeller Center, aimed at energizing early-rising fans headed to morning tee-offs.
The Mulligan adopts a bourbon-forward profile, with the same citrusy backbone that Arnold Palmer devotees recognize, but with a drier finish and a noticeable caffeine lift. It debuted at the PGA Finals in 2024 and has since traveled to New York as part of a Riviera-style pop-up experience that pairs the drink with the tournament atmosphere. The word from Elijah Craig and the Ryder Cup team is that the cocktail is designed to appeal to fans who arrive at the course early and want something more than a standard refresher while they soak in the golf action.
At the Ryder Cup, The Mulligan is sold at two Elijah Craig pop-ups: Pebble Bar at Rockefeller Center and The New York Edition hotel, where several golfers, including Team USA star Scottie Scheffler, have been seen stopping by. The price list for The Mulligan shows $19.50 for a regular pour and $26.50 for a large serving in a souvenir cup. Brand ambassadors and promoters emphasize a moodier, more time-of-day-appropriate cocktail that blends bourbon with green tea, lemonade and soda water, topped with a lemon slice for a bright finish and a symbolic touch of a tiny golf flag in the presentation.
Some observers see the new drink as a bold bid to capture New York’s energy-driven cocktail crowd, while others question whether a dark-liquor base can compete with the Honey Deuce’s vodka-forward formula in a city that loves a social-media moment. Frankie Solarik, owner of BarChef, said bourbon and whiskey tend to serve a specific palate, and the Honey Deuce’s vodka base already holds strong appeal for a broad audience. “Bourbon and whiskey generally do have a specified market and palate, so I would say it will be difficult to overtake the popularity of the Honey Deuce,” he told The Post.
“The Honey Deuce went viral, for sure, but this cocktail is for those who like a drier drink with a touch of caffeine because they were at the course at 7 a.m.,” Elijah Craig brand ambassador Chris Barry told The Post. The Mulligan is positioned as a morning-friendly option for fans who want a caffeinated lift without veering into sweeter territory.
Beyond the cocktail’s flavor profile, price, and venue, the broader energy around the Ryder Cup’s New York footprint remains a magnet for fans who want to soak in both sport and social scene. The event’s New York City presence comes with context: the Ryder Cup is hosted this year at Bethpage Black, a course known for its challenging layout and star-studded sideshows, where fans have reported steep prices for practice rounds and day passes. Some attendees are choosing to sample The Mulligan at the pop-ups rather than shell out the full price of tournament credentials, underscoring how cocktail culture and golf culture intersect in this moment.
Prices at the event underscore the premium nature of the experience. A standard beer at the Ryder Cup site runs about $19, while hard seltzers can hit $16 and a non-alcoholic Michelob Ultra Zero is listed at $12. For those traveling to the event, tickets to practice rounds on the Bethpage Black course have been cited at around $255, with daily grounds passes hovering around $750 in some cases. The Mulligan offers a more portable, pop-up-friendly option that aligns with the tournament’s energy—without requiring a full day on the course.
The Mulligan’s New York appearance comes as part of a broader trend of sports events expanding their beverage menus with caffeinated twists and premium spirits. While a cocktail’s price tag may raise eyebrows, the growing popularity of high-end signage and experiential pop-ups around major events means that fans are increasingly choosing to pair their viewing with a branded drink that carries a sense of place and moment. As New York’s cocktail scene continues to evolve, The Mulligan’s reception will help determine whether it can carve out a permanent niche within the sports-drink landscape.
To make it like a pro at home or to recreate the Ryder Cup mood, steep one green tea bag in 3 ounces of Elijah Craig Bourbon. Mix that with lemonade and soda water over ice, then top with a lemon slice and a miniature golf flag for a playful finish.
