Porn Star Martini Cocktail Recipe

One Drink, Two Glasses, Trending Topics

If cocktails had a celebrity A-list, the Porn Star Martini would be the undisputed headliner. Born in London in 2002, this wildly popular drink mixes the exotic tang of passion fruit, the sweet allure of vanilla, and the sultry kick of vodka—served with a side of chilled champagne. It's a recipe that has party lovers across the globe absolutely hooked. Not only has it dominated bar sales across the UK for years, it once racked up an astonishing 18.4 million Google searches in a single year—that's roughly two curious clicks per second by people asking: "What does this cheekily named cocktail even look like?"

History: From Strip Clubs to Search Engine Stardom

A Morning Flash of Genius
It was a groggy morning in 2002 when Ghanaian-born bartender Douglas Ankrah staggered through the streets of Cape Town, still nursing a hangover. The night before, he had been at the city's famous Maverick Gentlemen's Club when a flash of inspiration hit him—like a passion fruit to the forehead, sharp and unforgettable.
The Rename That Broke the Internet
Originally dubbed the "Maverick Martini," the cocktail had a poetic ring but lacked punch. Back in London, as Ankrah prepared to debut it at his own bar, LAB, he had a brainwave: "This drink is as sweet as lip gloss on a porn star—let's just call it Porn Star Martini!" The bolder the name, the better the sales. By 2021, it was being Googled twice as often as the runner-up cocktail, the Piña Colada — a boozy equivalent of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Recipe & Craft: Precision Meets Provocation

The Holy Grail Formula (Classic Build)

Ingredient	Measure	Pro Tip
Vanilla Vodka	1.5oz	Absolut Vanilla preferred
Passionfruit Liqueur	0.5oz	Passoã works
Fresh Passionfruit Purée	2oz	Canned = cardinal sin
Vanilla Syrup	0.33oz	Homemade (see below)
Lime Juice	0.5oz	Fresh-squeezed only
Brut Champagne/Prosecco	2oz	Chilled separately
Ice Cubes	As needed	Colder than Antarctica
Garnish	Half passionfruit	Seeds mandatory

Bartender's Confidential Guide

Shake Up a Tropical Storm
Combine first five ingredients in Boston shaker with large ice. Shake HARD for 12 seconds - until frost forms and the tin sings like ocean waves.
The Allure of the Coupe Glass
Strain into chilled coupe glass (wide-rimmed for maximum aroma impact). Crown with half passionfruit - the edible tiara.
The Champagne Hack
Serve chilled champagne in a shot glass, take a sip of wine and sip champagne, the experience is close to the life of the rich who "have red wine in the left hand and beauty in the right hand"

Pro Hack: Vanilla Syrup DIY:
Slice open a vanilla pod and scrape out the seeds. Seal the seeds and some fine sugar in a jar for three days. Every grain will taste like sunshine from Madagascar.

Decoding the Classic Charm of the Porn Star Martini

Sight: Instagram-ready champagne coupe duo
Taste: The tartness of passion fruit, the sweetness of vanilla, and the boldness of vodka play a stacking in the mouth
Smell: Tropical fruit mingling with champagne fizz—one whiff and you're mentally sunbathing in Miami
The Name: It's a conversation starter—and possibly a relationship-ender if your date's parents ask what you're drinking.

Fun Facts

Google's Accidental Wingman: Type "Pornstar" into Google. First suggestion? "Martini." This cocktail became the internet's ultimate gateway drug - converting curious teens into cocktail connoisseurs since 2002.
Pandemic Superstar: During lockdowns, it became one of the most searched-for cocktail recipes online, with countless amateur mixologists attempting to recreate the bar experience at home.
Tragically Lost Creator: Douglas Ankrah, who gave the world this beloved cocktail, sadly passed away in 2021 at just 51 years old, but his legacy lives on in every passion fruit-topped glass raised around the world.

Final Truth Bomb:
This cocktail's legacy proves -
Want fame? Choose a scandalous name.
Want immortality? Bottle pure joy.
Life's too short. Drink it naked.