This new cocktail is trying to drive some competition.
The Mulligan is making the rounds at the 2025 Ryder Cup in a big swing to unseat the reigning king (sorry, mint julep) of sports cocktails: the $17 million-selling Honey Deuce that served aces at the U.S. Open.
The drink — a barrage of Elijah Craig bourbon, sweet black tea, lemonade and soda water — debuted last year at the PGA finals and is a refreshing take on the classic Arnold Palmer.
It has a zesty edge and is also lightly caffeinated — a twist the Ryder team hopes will help early-rising, bleary-eyed fans to get to a morning tee-off. And if the popularity of the espresso martini has proven anything, New Yorkers love a boost of energy.
“Call this the John Daly— if you will — to the non-alcoholic Arnold Palmer,” Elijah Craig brand ambassador Chris Barry 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.”
But is the cocktail just another overpriced gimmick — $19.50 for a standard serving or $26.50 for a large souvenir cup, compared to the crazy popular $23 Honey Deuce?
Or is it a real contender in the arena of iconic sports drinks?
Some mixologists are skeptical that a dark liquor base could compete in NYC against a challenger like the U.S. Open’s popular vodka drink — it’s just not our cup of tee.
According to Overproof national data, vodka is the top spirit in the U.S., followed by tequila/mezcal and then whiskey, of which bourbon is a specific American variety.
“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,” Frankie Solarik, owner of BarChef, told The Post.
Doesn’t sound like a hole-in-one — but maybe not a double bogey either?
While it is a pricey punch, it’s comparatively not a bad deal for the Bethpage Black event: a “premium beer” costs $19 (plus tax and tip), and a hard seltzer is listed for an eye-opening $16 — who needs caffeine, really? — while a non-alcoholic Michelob Ultra Zero runs $12.
If you can’t muster the energy to hop on the LIRR for Farmingdale — much less the price of $255 to attend practice rounds, or $750 per day — you can still give it a shot at two Elijah Craig pop-ups at Pebble Bar at Rockefeller Center and The New York Edition hotel, the latter where several golf pros, including Team USA player Scottie Scheffler, were spotted Wednesday night.
Tee up!
Ace your own The Mulligan
- To make it like a pro, steep one black tea bag in 3 ounces of Elijah Craig Bourbon.
- Mix that with lemonade and soda water over ice.
- At the course, the drinks are topped with a lemon slice and a miniature golf flag for a hole-in-one presentation.
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