‘The White Lotus’ Rekindles the Magic of Season 2 With Pair of Signature Cocktails

(Photo: Diageo)

Days ahead of its Season 3 premiere, HBO’s smash-hit “The White Lotus” has unveiled a pair of signature cocktails featuring Ketel One Vodka and Tanqueray Gin. The boozy campaign is launching alongside Patrick Schwarzenegger, who, in addition to starring in the show’s upcoming season, was appointed as a brand ambassador to Ketel One back in November.

Fans hoping to imbibe the experience at home are invited to sip The White Lotus Vesper and The White Lotus Punch. Each cocktail was designed in tribute to the “luxury and sophistication” of the show’s Thailand setting, incorporating ingredients like pineapple juice, lychee liqueur and butterfly tea into the mix. For fans with a few bucks to spare, the team has also launched a pair of cocktail kits through Cocktail Courier that are now available for pre-order at $99 each.

The campaign kicked off last week with a video starring Patrick Schwarzenegger as a dashing bartender with a few mixology tricks up his sleeve. The son of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver, Patrick has previously garnered acclaim for his roles in “The Staircase” and “Gen V.”

He’s slated to play the role of Saxon, the son of a wealthy Southern family, in the upcoming season of the HBO drama. Other actors in the ensemble cast include Parker Posey, Walton Goggins, Michelle Monaghan, Jason Isaac and Blackpink star Lisa.

“Being part of the cast of The White Lotus has been an incredible journey, and I’m excited to partner with Ketel One Vodka and Tanqueray gin to bring fans closer to the unforgettable moments of season three,” Schwarzenegger said in a news release. “Just like these iconic spirits, The White Lotus is all about storytelling and savoring every experience. I can’t wait to watch the new season unfold while toasting The White Lotus Vesper Martini with friends and family.”

It’s not the first time that “The White Lotus” has dipped its toes into the alcohol industry.

Last season’s sunny Italian vista provided the perfect backdrop for what has now become a global sensation — the Aperol Spritz. Throughout the doomed yet decadent vacation to Sicily, everyone from Aubrey Plaza to Adam DiMarco was seen sipping on one of these bubbly bright-red cocktails. It’s unclear whether or not this was intentional product placement. What was not unclear, however, was the seismic boom in popularity that the cocktail witnessed soon after.

Campari Group, the spirits company behind Aperol, announced that the bitter apéritif saw 50% growth throughout the U.S. in 2022. CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz thanked “The White Lotus” by name for igniting the trend.

Now, it appears that British firm Diageo — the conglomerate behind Ketel One Vodka and Tanqueray Gin — is hoping to replicate that runaway success. Find the full cocktail recipes below.

The White Lotus Punch

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz Ketel One Vodka
• 1/2 oz Tanqueray London Dry Gin
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz Mango Syrup
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients into a highball glass filled with crushed ice and stir. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and stir.

The White Lotus Vesper Martini

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz Ketel One Vodka
• 1/2 oz Tanqueray London Dry Gin
• 1/4 oz French white wine aperitif
• 1 bar spoon or teaspoon lychee liqueur
• 1 bar spoon or teaspoon butterfly pea tea

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with lychee.