Measures
2 ripe small passion fruit halves
2 fluid oz or 60ml vanilla vodka
1 fluid oz or 30ml passion fruit liqueur
1 tbsp lime juice freshly squeezed
1 tbsp vanilla simple syrup
Chilled Champagne or Prosecco
Garnishes
Half a small passion fruit (Crinkled)
Glasses
Martini Glass (or)
Coupe Glass (or)
A Margarita Glass (in an emergency)
Shot Glass (or)
Shooter Glass
How to Prepare a Pornstar Martini
Wash and cut the two passionfruit into four halves. Scoop out the seeds from three halves and spoon into a Boston cocktail shaker. Add all the other ingredients except the champagne. Add a generous scoop of ice and shake enthusiastically until well frosty. Strain the cocktail into a well-chilled martini or coupe glass and garnish by carefully floating the remaining passionfruit half with the seeds facing upwards. Pour a measure of champagne in a chilled shot or shooter glass and serve the drinks immediately.
Some recipes call for the champagne to be used to top up the glass and not served on the side but this is not the advised method.
The Pornstar Martini Story
Considered to be a modern classic, the Porn Star Martini is a mix of vanilla vodka, passion fruit liqueur and lime juice served with a side shot of Champagne or Prosecco. It’s often said to be the most popular cocktail in Great Britain. Still, it has extraordinarily little resemblance to a real martini and largely gets that part of its name from the glass that is used.
It’s generally accepted that the drink was first created by Douglas Ankrah, the owner and head mixologist of the LAB bar at the London Townhouse bar in Knightsbridge during either in 1999 or in 2000 (others say 2002). Some sources claim that Ankrah wanted to create the kind of cocktail that he imagined porn stars would drink. Other sources claim it was inspired by the fruity granadilla perfume worn by a stripper. In later interviews, Ankrah claimed he used the “porn star” name to evoke “a stylish and confident drink that was indulgent sexy, fun and evocative.” He also added that it was somewhat inspired by a gentleman’s club in Cape Town South Africa called Mavericks.
A side shot of Champagne was always meant to be served with the cocktail, but this is often replaced with Prosecco or another sparkling white wine. Original designed as a palate cleanser, the champagne was meant to cut through the strong fruity flavour but, over time, people found this perfectly complimented the richness of the drink and the two became inseparable.
