Some say the Pornstar Martini was given its cheeky name because it was inspired by its creator Douglas Ankrah’s idea of what a stripper’s perfume might smell like. Others insist that it was what Ankrah imagined a pornstar might order at the bar. While its etymology might be obscure, the Pornstar Martini’s flavor is quite the contrary — the creamy vanilla vodka is complemented by tangy, succulent passion fruit liqueur that packs a punch. A bit of lime juice and sparkling wine make for an even more intensely piquant taste, though this cocktail definitely maintains its sweetness.
Though the drink was invented in London, it reminds us of anything but scones and tea. Read on to discover how to make your very own Pornstar Martini, exactly how Douglas Ankrah intended.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vanilla-flavored vodka
- ½ ounce passion fruit liqueur
- 1 ounce passion fruit puree
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 2 ounces sparkling wine
- Lime wheel or half a passion fruit for garnish
- Note: A classic Pornstar Martini is garnished with half of a fresh passion fruit. This version uses a dehydrated lime, but you can use either.
Directions
- Combine all ingredients (except sparkling wine) in a cocktail shaker and shake well with ice.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or Martini glass.
- Top with sparkling wine, or serve in a small glass as a sidecar.
- Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel (or half a passion fruit).
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The History Of The Pornstar Martini
The Pornstar Martini, infamous for both its name and unique flavor, was created by London bar owner Douglas Ankrah, the mind behind two of London’s trendiest bars, LAB and Townhouse, both of which closed down in 2016.
Ankrah stated in an interview with The Buyer that “bars, when done properly, should be environments where one can be bold, sexy, and playful,” and that he set out on a mission to find a drink that encapsulated each of these qualities. Enter: The Pornstar Martini. While on a trip to Cape Town, South Africa in the early 2000s, Ankrah describes a sort of “eureka” moment in which he thought of the cocktail while writing his book, “Shaken and Stirred: Douglas Ankrah’s Cocktails.” A frequent patron of Cape Town’s gentlemen’s club Mavericks, Ankrah had originally named the cocktail The Maverick, and later changed the name when he arrived back in London to open Townhouse. When asked where the name came from, Ankrah simply claimed that he thought the drink seemed like something a pornstar would drink.
Described by Ankrah himself as the ultimate party cocktail, The Pornstar Martini launched on the London scene in 2002 and was an instant sensation, with Ankrah’s two bars (at the time) quickly becoming the go-to spots for revolutionary cocktails in the UK. By 2018, The Pornstar Martini was widely recognized as one of the most popular cocktails in the country. While its etymology might be obscure, the Pornstar Martini’s flavor is quite the contrary — the creamy vanilla vodka is complemented by tangy, succulent passion fruit liqueur that packs a punch. A bit of lime juice and sparkling wine make for an even more intensely piquant taste, though this cocktail definitely maintains its sweetness.
