Patrick Schwarzenegger says a frosted glass is what makes a great martini

Celebrity & Entertainment journalist
Patrick Schwarzenegger posing on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival
Patrick Schwarzenegger at 83rd Venice International Film Festival Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Patrick Schwarzenegger knows his martini. After three years working with Ketel One and the family behind it, the White Lotus actor has learned that some people take the cocktail very seriously - and the detail he swears by is simpler than you'd expect.

"I'm not that severe," he told Delish. But he does have one firm rule. "A frosted glass. A cold glass I think makes all the difference."

He spoke from Schiedam in the Netherlands during a visit to the Nolet Distillery, where the family behind Ketel One has been making spirits since 1691. The trip was his idea - after hearing so much about the distillery, he wanted to see it himself, even shoveling coal into the distilling equipment.

That family's exacting streak is no joke. According to Schwarzenegger, the Nolets are particular enough to check how a bar stores its vermouth, olives and white wine before ordering. If anything has been sitting out rather than refrigerated, they might switch to a drier martini.

Bob Nolet says today's drinkers have gotten just as picky. "Today's martini drinkers know what they want," he told Delish, whether that's a classic dry martini, something dirty, or an espresso version.

Schwarzenegger has still been game to try the stranger twists. He sampled The Corner Store's viral sour cream and onion martini and called it "really good." The Tomatini was another story - convincing tomato flavor, but only "a few sips, maybe one max."

His dependable order is an espresso martini, something the Nolets know especially well. The family even arranged for espresso machines to be sent to his wedding in Idaho so guests could sip his favorite cocktail.

Beyond the bar

Between filming, fitness and work, he keeps alcohol to weekends and is curious about better-for-you canned cocktails with less sugar and real fruit juice. At home, he's happy with a simple plate of chicken and rice - though his Instagram algorithm keeps feeding him food ads. "I buy everything," he admitted.

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