PORNSTAR MARTINI
The Pornstar Martini: A Provocative Modern Classic
The Pornstar Martini was created in 2002 by Douglas Ankrah at Townhouse bar in London. Ankrah developed the drink to complement a haute cuisine menu at the bar, initially calling it the "Maverick Martini" before settling on the provocative "Pornstar Martini" name, according to Liquor.com.
The cocktail combines vanilla vodka with passion fruit purée or liqueur (Passoã), fresh lime juice, and simple syrup, topped with half a fresh passion fruit and served alongside a shot of champagne or prosecco. The champagne is sipped between sips of the cocktail, as noted in Difford's Guide.
Ankrah stated he named the drink to reflect its "glamorous" and "sexy" nature, though the provocative name generated both attention and controversy. The Pornstar Martini became one of the UK's most popular cocktails during the 2000s and 2010s, according to Punch.
The drink's combination of sweet passion fruit, vanilla, and the ritual of the champagne sidecar created a theatrical presentation that contributed to its massive success. By the 2010s, the Pornstar Martini was reportedly the most ordered cocktail in UK bars, demonstrating how a modern creation could achieve classic status within years.
RECIPE:
2 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz passion fruit liqueur (Passoã) or fresh passion fruit purée
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/4 oz simple syrup
1/2 fresh passion fruit for garnish
1 oz champagne or prosecco (served on the side)
Method:
Add vodka, passion fruit liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously until well-chilled.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Float half a passion fruit on top.
Serve with a shot of champagne on the side.