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This delightful drink, a modern spin on a classic cocktail, the Pornstar Martini, is incredibly smooth and irresistibly delicious! The bright flavors of the passion fruit puree and passion fruit liqueur are balanced by the smooth flavor of vanilla. And, of course, any drink that includes a shot of champagne is bound to be delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Modern Classic Cocktail
The Pornstar Martini, despite its name, doesn’t strictly adhere to traditional martini norms. It is crafted with vanilla-infused vodka, the fruity zing of Passoã passion fruit liqueur, the sweetness of vanilla simple syrup, and passion fruit puree contributing to the drink’s luxurious texture. After the blend is perfectly shaken, it is garnished with a slice of citrus or passion fruit for a charming finish, and, most importantly, set up with a side car of Champagne.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Please check out the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and specific measurements.
Vanilla Vodka
A quality vanilla vodka will take this drink far. My favorites, Grey Goose La Vanille for a high-end vodka, or Absolut Vanilla for a more approachable brand.
Passoã
Passion Fruit Liqueur is a delicious addition to any tropical fruit drink. Mmmmm. Definitely make a point to get your hands on this one in advance. I promise you, it is worth it.
Passion Fruit Puree
Homemade is always delicious. But! A quality store-bought version like Funkin Passion Fruit Puree adds a bit more flavor and makes the drink a bit more foamy when shaken.
Lemon Juice
Freshly squeezed is a must. Limes will work well here too.
Vanilla extract
Just a dab will do. And keep it minimal. Not 100% necessary. But! It does add some complexity.
Champagne
Prosecco or Cava will work here too! I prefer a drier bubbly that balances out the sweetness of the drink nicely.
Ice
Small to medium cubes of ice will do well here. Ice is only used to chill the cocktail while being shaken. And to chill the glass too.
How To Make
Step No. 1 — Chill The Glasses
Chill coupe glasses by adding ice and water to the glass or place in the freezer.
Step No. 2 — Shake It Up
In a cocktail shaker, combine vanilla vodka, Passoã Passion Fruit Liqueur, Funkin Passion Fruit Puree, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Add ice cubes and shake it up!
Step No. 2 — Drink It Up
Strain the mixture into chilled coupe glasses. Top it off with a slice of citrus or passion fruit. Most importantly! Don’t forget the side shot of Champagne for the classic Pornstar Martini experience! My favorite is to pour it on top of the martini as a “floater” on the cocktail — it minimizes the sweetness a bit. Some purists might say it must be a sidecar (er, a shot on the side). You choose!
What Is The Story Behind This Surprisingly Named Drink?
Initially dubbed the Maverick Martini, by Douglas Ankrah, a renowned London mixologist and creator of this concoction, it was famously inspired by a frequented club in Cape Town. Later it was coined the Pornstar Martini because Ankrah believed the cocktail’s vibrant golden color had the dazzle and allure akin to something a porn star might enjoy sipping. It is still one of the most ordered cocktails in London — even two decades after its inception.
Top Tips
Bubbles
The original Pornstar Martini calls for a side-car of champagne, which is included to cleanse the palette — either before or after the martini. I actually prefer to pour the champagne on top of the drink to enjoy it as a “floater”! Either way, this drink is insanely delicious.
Vanilla Vodka
If you do not have vanilla vodka, you can easily use a plain (high-quality) vodka that you have on hand, soaking a vanilla bean in it before serving, or simply adding a half teaspoon of vanilla extract to the shaker.
Mocktail It Up
This can easily be made into an alcohol-free mocktail. Simply omit the vodka and the passion fruit liqueur. To make up for those missing flavors, add in a bit more passion fruit puree. Serve with an alcohol-free sparkling wine in place of the champagne. Oh, and for a less sweet version, cut it with a few ounces of club soda.
Serving Suggestions
Chilled Coupe Glass. Simply add ice to the glass and fill with water to chill the glass. Or place the empty glass directly into the freezer until ready to serve.
Garnish Away. My favorite garnishes are dried citrus rounds or fresh passion fruit rounds. Other garnish ideas are sliced pineapple rounds, caramelized with a torch to grill the edges slightly (check out the variations below for more details on this idea), basil leaf for a fresh herby addition, or a beautiful fresh orchid flower for the extra color.
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Pin ItHow To Make Ahead & How To Store
This cocktail is best served fresh, but you can premix the ingredients without ice and store them in the refrigerator. Store any leftover cocktail in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can’t get your hands on Funkin Passion Fruit Puree or fresh passion fruit, here are the 5 best substitutes for passion fruit juice
1 – Guava Juice.
2 – Orange Juice.
3 – Pineapple Juice.
4 – Mango Juice.
5 – Kiwi Juice.
Passoã Liqueur, a Passion Fruit Liqueur, is a key ingredient in many drinks, including Pornstar Martinis. If you do not have Passoã, you can substitute other passion fruit liqueurs, pineapple liqueurs, or even passion fruit juice or puree.
Can’t find Funkin Passion Fruit Puree? No worries! You can make an easy and delicious homemade passion fruit puree to add to this unique cocktail. Cut the passion fruit in half with a sharp knife. Scoop the pulp into a blender or food processor and give it a few quick pulses. Pour through a strainer to remove pulp and large seeds. If not using all of it now in your pornstar martini, keep it in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Pornstar Martini
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Hawthorne Strainer
- Shot Glass
- Coupe Glass
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
- 2 oz. Funkin Passion Fruit Puree
- 1⁄4 tsp. Passoã Passion Fruit Liqeuer
- 1⁄2 tsp. Lemon Juice Freshly Squeezed
- 1⁄4 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1 1⁄2 oz. Champagne
- 2 c. Ice
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Instructions
Step No. 1 — Chill The Glasses
- Chill coupe glasses by adding ice and water to the glass or place in the freezer.
Step No. 2 — Shake It Up
- In a cocktail shaker, combine vanilla vodka, Passoã passion fruit liqueur, Funkin passion fruit puree, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla syrup. Add ice cubes and shake vigorously.
Step No. 2 — Drink It Up
- Strain the mixture into chilled coupe glasses. Top it off with a slice of citrus or passion fruit. Most importantly! Don't forget the floater (or side shot) of Champagne for the classic Pornstar Martini experience! My favorite is to pour it as a floater on the cocktail — it minimizes the sweetness a bit. Some purists might say it must be a sidecar (a shot on the side). You choose!
Notes
To chill your glass, either fill it with ice and water or place the empty glass directly in the freezer until you’re ready to serve. Garnish Away.
My go-to garnishes are dried citrus rounds, fresh citrus rounds, or fresh passion fruit slices. Other great options include sliced pineapple rounds (caramelized with a torch for a slightly grilled edge), a basil leaf for a fresh herbal touch, or a beautiful fresh orchid flower for an extra pop of color. Champagne.
The original Pornstar Martini traditionally comes with a side of champagne, meant to cleanse the palate either before or after enjoying the martini. I sometimes pour the champagne on top of the drink as a “floater” while garnishing. No matter how you serve it, this drink is insanely delicious Vanilla Vodka.
No vanilla vodka on hand? No problem! You can use plain, high-quality vodka and soak a vanilla bean in it before serving. Alternatively, just add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the shaker for a similar flavor boost.
This is super easy to make sans alcohol! Just skip the vodka and passion fruit liqueur. To replace those flavors, mix in half a teaspoon of vanilla and a little extra passion fruit puree. Serve it with alcohol-free sparkling wine instead of champagne. And enjoy a delicious, refreshing mocktail!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks so good I can’t wait to try it!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Hi, Colleen! I haven’t met a person who does not love this delicious cocktail. I am excited for you to try it too! Please send a comment when you do!