Patrick Schwarzenegger on Favorite Family Traditions (and His Favorite Drink) for the Holidays

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Patrick Schwarzenegger is gearing up for a busy 2025, with a starring role in the third season of The White Lotus and perhaps a return for season two of Gen V. But before then, the actor and model is prepping for his favorite season of them all: the holidays.

Schwarzenegger is partnering with vodka brand, Ketel One, on a new campaign designed to bring friends and families together for a good drink — and good memories. As Ketel One’s first-ever “Spirit Advisor,” the 31-year-old will appear in a series of ads and activations that help “consumers prioritize meaningful moments over material goods,” while “identifying the best ways to incorporate Ketel One into your celebrations.”

The campaign features Schwarzenegger in a tongue-in-cheek video promoting the Ketel One espresso martini, while the self-proclaimed “cocktail connoisseur” also contributes a new cocktail recipe of his own. Fans can take home a piece of the campaign with a special Ketel One Vodka x PUNCH Cocktail Kit — featuring Schwarzenegger’s holiday recipe — available for purchase at Cocktail Courier. 

Rolling Stone caught up with Schwarzenegger to talk about how the partnership came together, his favorite drinks to make (and sip), and the Schwarzenegger holiday traditions he looks forward to every year.

Tell us about this Ketel One campaign and why you wanted to partner with them.

First off, I always admired the fact that Ketel One is a family-owned business and has maintained a commitment to quality and craftsmanship. I feel that as I’ve gotten older, the more and more I appreciate quality cocktails, especially martinis, so when they approached me about partnering for the holiday season, it was an easy yes! I’m excited to add my own holiday flair to this campaign and show off some of my bartending skills. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to work with a product that people love to enjoy.

What exactly makes you a “cocktail connoisseur?”

My friends always make fun of me for being a cocktail connoisseur and even a snob to a degree. I just really enjoy great craft cocktails.

Okay, let’s talk holidays. What is it about this time of year that resonates with you?

The holidays are a special time of the year, my favorite time of the year, as it reminds me to slow down and spend time with loved ones, but also to indulge and treat ourselves. This partnership is all about making memories during the holidays and celebrating with the right spirit.

What are some of your family holiday traditions?

[During the] Christmas season, we go as a family up to Sun Valley, Idaho and ski. There is nothing quite like being in the snowy outdoors and huddled around a fire and just enjoying nature.

A tradition we always do is right before the new year, we go over the highs and lows of the year and [talk about] what we want to start doing more of in the new year, along with one thing that we want to leave behind in the past year.

In addition to mixing up a good cocktail, what’s a tradition that you want to introduce to others?

Giving back. I think this is a tradition that my family has instilled in me from such a young age. While the holidays can be such a beautiful and celebratory time for so many, it can also be a very difficult time for many others. I feel very blessed and fortunate to live the life that I have, and recognize that I have the power to help others and impact other people by giving back – whether that’s donating food and goods and gifts or volunteering at our local church for Thanksgiving food drives, which we do every year as a family.

Since we’re talking Ketel One, what’s your go-to drink this season?

Recently, I’ve been on an espresso martini kick. While some may find It intimidating to make at home, it’s been a fun way to elevate date night for me and my fiancé. 

Over the years, the main thing I’ve noticed about myself is that I’ve really started to appreciate and enjoy craft cocktails and specialty martinis. When I was younger, I usually consumed more sugary drinks, whereas now, I like more simplistic martinis that focus on the quality of the spirit. For me, that is a Ketel One martini with a twist. Unless it’s a date…then we do espresso martini!”