Porn star martini
Passion fruit cocktail created in London in 2002.
The porn star martini is a passion fruit-flavoured cocktail created in London in 2002 by Douglas Ankrah. It became the most ordered cocktail in the United Kingdom in November 2018, despite not being a traditional martini.
Quick Facts
- Base
- Vodka, Passoã
- Ingredients
- 4 cl (4 parts) vanilla vodka / 1 cl (1 part) Passoã / 2 cl (2 parts) passion fruit puree / 2 bar spoons (or teaspoons) homemade vanilla sugar (vanilla pods blended with caster sugar)
- Served
- Straight up
- Garnish
- Passion fruit half and an accompanying shot glass of champagne
- Drinkware
- Cocktail glass
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The porn star martini was invented by Douglas Ankrah, owner of LAB Bar in Soho, London, at his bar Townhouse in London in 2002. Ankrah says it was inspired by a visit to Mavericks Revue Bar Gentlemen's Club, a strip club in Cape Town, South Africa. The cocktail is made with vanilla-flavoured vodka, Passoã, passion fruit purée, and vanilla sugar, and is traditionally accompanied by a chilled shot glass of champagne. Some bars have adapted the original recipe to be more cost effective by using citrus and pineapple juice, though it creates a different flavour and texture.
Reader's Guide
The porn star martini is significant as a modern cocktail that achieved widespread popularity, becoming the most ordered cocktail in the United Kingdom in November 2018. Its name has been a subject of controversy: creator Douglas Ankrah denied that the name was 'anything sexual,' stating he named it because he thought it would be 'something that a porn star would drink.' He also denied being a fan of pornography or idolising any porn stars. In 2019, British retailer Marks & Spencer renamed their porn star martinis to passion fruit martinis following complaints that the name normalised pornography. The drink is not a traditional martini but is one of many variations that have the term martini in its name. Its legacy includes both its commercial success and the ongoing debate over its name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Porn star martini?
It is a passion fruit-flavoured cocktail that was born in a London bar. Despite carrying the word 'martini' in its name, it does not follow the classic gin-or-vodka-and-vermouth formula at all.
Who created the Porn star martini and when?
Barman Douglas Ankrah devised the drink in London, United Kingdom, back in 2002. It has been on menus ever since.
What does the Porn star martini taste like?
The cocktail is built around a bright, tropical passion fruit flavour, giving it a distinctly fruity and sweet profile compared to a dry traditional martini.
Why is the Porn star martini so famous?
In November 2018 it was recorded as the single most ordered cocktail across the entire United Kingdom. That milestone turned a once-niche London bar creation into a nationwide staple.
Is the Porn star martini actually a vodka cocktail?
Yes, vodka forms the base spirit of the drink, which is why it appears in this vodka-cocktail encyclopedia. The passion fruit syrup and other mixers give it its signature tropical character.
More in Cocktails with vodka 1-24
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