What's Really In A Pornstar Martini?

A pornstar martini may not sound like the sort of cocktail you'd order on a weeknight, but it goes down easily enough to be enjoyed anytime. However, it's the drama that surrounds the drink, from its edgy name to the dramatic two-glass format it is generally served in which makes it so exciting. Also, anything with passionfruit sounds tantalizing — move aside Sex on the Beach. 

Unlike the monochromatic ingredients you'd find in a regular martini (unless you're making a dirty martini), the pornstar martini is an explosion of bright colors and balanced sweet-tangy flavors of passionfruit and vanilla. And this is before we even get to the shot of bubbly that's served alongside as a chaser or palate cleanser, depending on how quickly you quaff it down. It's unlikely you'll find too many cocktails served this way, though an interesting parallel is the whiskey and pickle juice duo, fancy versions of which are served in a pair of Nick and Nora glasses.

The pornstar martini has been around for a while, and one might even call it an industry veteran. Popularized during London's chic early-2000s cocktail scene, it's been re-created and riffed on across cocktail bars around the world and you can even buy packaged, premixed versions of it. However, mixing the pornstar martini at home is surprisingly simple, and it always makes for a memorable talking point amongst guests.

Denying any sexual connotations leading to its origin, the pornstar martini's creator — the late Douglas Ankrah — attributed the name to the cocktail looking like something a porn star would drink (via Punch). Ankrah, who co-founded London's iconic LAB cocktail bar, was in Cape Town, South Africa when he came up with the drink in a spur-of-the-moment wave of inspiration. At the time, he frequented the Mavericks Gentlemen's Club and originally called the cocktail a Maverick martini. Since the drink's rise in popularity, it has also been called a Passion Star martini (in order to tone down the name).

At the time he came up with the cocktail (in 2002), Ankrah was brainstorming cocktails for his new London bar, Townhouse. Fruity cocktails were popular at the time, and he was drawn to the classic vanilla-passionfruit combination seen in baked confections. The cocktail soon became popular at Townhouse and LAB, both of which were launching pads not just for novel cocktails but also for up-and-coming mixologists. As late as 2019, the pornstar martini was the most-ordered cocktail in the United Kingdom. The cocktail has been popular for so long because it's not just the shock value or fancy presentation that makes it memorable. The pornstar martini is a genuinely well-crafted drink that perfectly balances being exotic but still deliciously accessible.

A pornstar martini has three key elements — vanilla, passionfruit, and bubbles. Ergo, it is made by shaking together vanilla vodka, passionfruit liqueur, passionfruit puree, and vanilla-tinged sugar. The mixture is poured into a martini glass, topped with sparkling prosecco, and served with a side of champagne. To be precise, vanilla sugar is essentially vanilla pods and sugar blended together. You can even make an infused simple syrup with vanilla beforehand since it is versatile enough to use in multiple cocktails.

The combination of sweet vanilla and tangy passionfruit is what makes the pornstar martini such a tasty affair. The fruity sourness from the prosecco also complements the flavors. Since the drink is replete with bright flavors, it contrasts magnificently with champagne, which usually has deeper, more complex notes. The bubbles in both the prosecco and champagne help elevate the drink from just a fruity cocktail to something special. We learned in our expert whiskey tasting lessons that bubbles also help scrub the palate, and what fancier bubbles exist than those in champagne?

Not only is a pornstar martini easy to make at home, it is also simple to riff on. Consider flavors that blend well with either vanilla or passionfruit for inspiration. Switching out vanilla vodka in favor of coconut rum is a delicious alternative. You can also consider making a strawberry version of the cocktail by substituting the passionfruit liqueur and puree for its strawberry counterparts. Either way, they're recipes for an exciting night.