The Pornstar Martini is the modern crowd-pleaser that broke the rules of the cocktail revival — fragrant vanilla vodka, ripe passion fruit, and a bright squeeze of lime, served alongside an ice-cold shot of champagne. Sweet, tropical, and theatrical, it is unapologetically built for fun.
Ingredients
Glass
Martini Glass
The Story
Created in 2002 by London bartender Douglas Ankrah at the Townhouse bar in Knightsbridge, the drink was inspired by a cocktail he had tried in Cape Town. Ankrah originally called it the Maverick Martini, but renamed it for what he described as the kind of drink "a porn star would drink" — sexy, unfiltered, and instantly memorable.
It became one of the defining cocktails of the 2000s and 2010s, leading the UK's most-ordered cocktail lists for years and turning passion fruit into a bartender staple. The accompanying champagne shot is part of the ritual: sip the cocktail, sip the champagne, and let the two flavors meet on the palate.
How We Make It
Shake the Cocktail
Add 50ml vanilla vodka, 20ml Passoã passion fruit liqueur, the pulp of one ripe passion fruit, 15ml fresh lime juice, and 10ml vanilla sugar syrup to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake Hard
Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is properly frosted. The hard shake is what creates the signature foam crown.
Strain
Double-strain into a chilled martini glass. The seeds should stay in the shaker — what enters the glass is smooth, golden, and topped with foam.
Garnish & Serve
Float half a passion fruit on top of the foam, cut side up. Serve with a chilled shot glass of brut champagne on the side.
Variations
Espresso Pornstar
A mashup with the Espresso Martini — a shot of fresh espresso joins the passion fruit, giving the drink a coffee depth and an even bolder foam.
Strawberry Pornstar
Muddled fresh strawberries replace part of the passion fruit, adding a softer, summery sweetness without losing the tropical character.
Spiced Pornstar
A pinch of vanilla seeds and a splash of spiced rum alongside the vodka — warmer and richer, especially good in cooler weather.
Bartender Tips
Use Real Passion Fruit
Fresh passion fruit pulp beats purée every time. The seeds stay in the shaker, but the flavor and aroma you get from a ripe fruit are unmistakable.
Hard Shake for the Foam
The signature thick foam comes from shaking hard with plenty of ice. A timid shake leaves a flat, syrupy drink. Commit to the shake.
Champagne Stays Separate
Never pour the champagne into the cocktail. The shot is meant to be sipped alongside — alternating bites of sweet, tart, and dry is the entire point.