The Porn Star Martini is a relatively new cocktail with quite a suggestive name. But Bartender Douglas Ankrah didn't intend to provoke or irritate with his cocktail creation, as he explained in an interview with The Buyer.
When asked about it, he stated that he intended to design a "stylish and confident drink". A cocktail that's "pure indulgence, sexy, fun, and evocative".
About the cocktail
Despite the name, the drink quickly evolved into a modern classic. It is a real crowd-pleaser made of fresh passion fruit juice, vanilla-flavored Vodka, Passoã, and lime juice.
One thing that certainly helped gain traction in bars is the chilled shot glass of Prosecco, or occasionally Champagne, that comes with it. It is not mandatory but serves as a palate cleanser and contributes to the authentic Porn Star Martini experience.
And many other types of Martini, the Pornstar is miles away from a classic Martini. Most of these share only the Martini glass, and some merely the name with the original Martini.
Ingredients
The ingredients you need for this Porn Star Martini recipe are a little extra, and not what you might have as an essential in your home bar. However, it's worth it:
- Passion fruits: you want to use ripe passion fruits, which you can identify by their wrinkled skin and light weight.
- Passoã: the sweet passion fruit liqueur has an ABV of 17% and is responsible for the bright orange color of the Porn Star Martini.
- Vanilla-flavored Vodka: Often a little lower in ABV than the regular version. If you want one with 40%, opt for the product from Absolut. Products of other renowned brands like Stoli, Ciroc, and Smirnoff only have 35% but work, too.
- Vanilla-flavored simple syrup: You can use store-bought vanilla syrup, for instance, the one from Monin. Alternatively, use our simple syrup recipe as a base and add 0.75oz vanilla extract.
- Lime juice: use juice squeezed from fresh limes to get the best possible Porn Star Martini.
- Sparkling wine: Prosecco is a common choice, but you can use whichever bubbly you like best. It should not be too sweet, though. An extra dry, brut, or even extra brut is fine.
How to make it
If you follow these steps, you get a perfect drink. Also, remember that the Prosecco is an extra element served on the side of the actual cocktail. It serves as a palate cleanser, so you don't mix it with the other components. You either drink it before or sip on it while enjoying the Porn Star Martini:
- Step 1: Cut the two passion fruits in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh of 3 halves and add it into a cocktail shaker.
- Step 2: Passoã, syrup, fresh lime juice, and Vodka, together with a generous amount of ice cubes, and shake for about 10 seconds.
- Step 3: Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. That means you use your Hawthorne Strainer as you usually do and, additionally, pour through a fine mesh. You don't want any fruit pulp or kernels in your drink.
- Step 4: Pour Prosecco into a chilled shot glass. Serve the cocktail with the Prosecco shot on the side and garnish the drink with half a passion fruit.
Who invented the Porn Star Martini?
In 2002 Douglas Ankrah invented the cocktail for his bar Townhouse in London. Ankrah also owned LAB bar in London since its early days when it was a bartending school and not yet a bar.
His fruity recipe became an instant success. First in the bar, then in London, and ultimately all over the UK. Until today the Porn Star Martini has regularly been voted the most popular cocktail in England and the entire United Kingdom.
Douglas Ankrah was known for his creative approach to bartending. Some called him even a pioneer of his craft. Sadly, at only 51 years, he passed away in August 2021.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 Passion fruits
- 2 oz Vanilla flavored Vodka
- 0.5 oz Passoã
- 0.5 oz Vanilla simple syrup
- 0.5 oz Lime juice
- 2 oz Prosecco
Instructions
- Cut the two passion fruits in half and scoop out the flesh of 3 halves into your cocktail shaker. Put one half aside. You will need that later for garnish.2 Passion fruits
- Add Vodka, Passoã, syrup, and lime juice to your shaker and shake with plenty of ice.2 oz Vanilla flavored Vodka, 0.5 oz Passoã, 0.5 oz Vanilla simple syrup, 0.5 oz Lime juice
- Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with half a passion fruit.
- Pour Prosecco into a chilled shot glass and serve it beside the cocktail. Instruct your guest to drink alternately from the two glasses.2 oz Prosecco
One of my favorite cocktails ever! Champagne and passion fruit go so well together.