It’s the number 1 Cocktail in the UK, right now.
The Pornstar Martini is Passion Fruit, Vodka and Vanilla, served with a shot of sparkling wine on the side, and it has been for over twenty years.
In this cocktail recipe guide we cover where the Pornstar Martini came from, how its creator originally poured it, and three recipes you can make at home with Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur:
Douglas Ankrah’s original, a long and refreshing Pornstar Highball, and a modern Mouse Kingdom Pornstar Martini.
The History of the Pornstar Martini
Who invented the Pornstar Martini?
The Pornstar Martini was created by London bartender Douglas Ankrah, one of the key figures of the early-2000s cocktail revival in the UK. He released it on the opening menu of his bar Townhouse in Knightsbridge, and it went on to become a bestseller at both Townhouse and his Soho bar, LAB. Most sources date its creation to 2002, though some give 2003. For the full story and his own recipe notes, see the Difford’s Guide Pornstar Martini entry.
He passed in August 2021, having defined the direction of the drinks industry in the UK for generations. Every pornstar we pour is entirely because of him, and we are proud to produce a liqueur which we hope might, one day, be poured in a cocktail he created in your home, or bar.
Why is it called the Pornstar Martini?
So Ankrah first called it the Maverick Martini, after a gentlemen’s club in Cape Town, South Africa, that he visited while writing his 2004 cocktail book, Shaken & Stirred. Back in London he renamed it because it seemed like the kind of drink a porn star would order. You might see it listed as the Passion Fruit Martini on some menus, just in case a lost small child wanders by while you order it.
From London bars to the nation’s favourite
It was popular from day one, regularly sitting in the top three sellers at both of Ankrah’s bars. It has since spread to bars, restaurants and supermarket shelves across the UK and the world, and it was named the most-Googled cocktail of 2019. Ankrah himself later launched a pre-bottled version, and inspired countless ready-to-drink riffs.
What makes it special: the experience
Technically it isn’t a Martini in the traditional sense of the word. Martini’s have been around for over a century, evolving from the Martinez which began in the late 1800’s. They’re definitely not fruity, and they are extremely boozy.
But in the 90’s new wave of cocktail expression, a Martini began to be associated with more approachable flavours. Sex and the City made the Cosmopolitan iconic, and the Apple Martini, and French Martini began to earn their wings.
The modern Pornstar serve pairs the passion fruit and vanilla cocktail with a small glass of chilled sparkling wine, originally Champagne. Ankrah’s idea was to alternate between the two: sip the fizz to cleanse the palate, then return to the cocktail. People feel like they are getting two drinks in one.
But if you fancy pouring it in? Do it. When you add sparkling wine to a cocktail with certain ingredients, like pineapple juice, they froth up and provide an excellent mouthfeel, which is where the experience makes the serve.
Why Passion Fruit Liqueur Matters
The backbone of any good Pornstar Martini is its Liqueur, and the one you choose decides whether the drink tastes bright and tropical or flat and sugary.
Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur is an excellent pour:
- Made in Manchester. Mouse Kingdom is an independent liqueur maker founded in 2021.
- A British wheat base. The liqueur starts with vodka distilled from UK-grown winter wheat, which gives a clean, balanced freshness for the fruit to rest on.
- Real passion fruit juice. Actually made with passion fruit juice and UK grown sugar, balanced so the flavour is tangy and tropical rather than super sweet.
- Versatile and low abv at 16% ABV. Gentle enough to sip over ice or top with soda, with the sweet/sour intensity to carry a cocktail.
Recipe 1: Douglas Ankrah’s Original Pornstar Martini
The original is richer and more dessert-like than many modern versions, with vanilla sugar adding body and sweetness. Ankrah famously compared the creation of the drink to baking.
Notably, he did not use lime or lemon: the passion fruit juice he used provides all the acidity needed.
Which is excellent, because we built our liqueur to have huge hidden acidity, which you’ll find when you open it up with dilution in a cocktail or spritz. We built the liqueur from the cocktail and the fruit, rather than making you make the cocktail around us.
Note: Ankrah’s original spec used Passoã as the passion fruit liqueur as it was recently invented in 1985. Here we use Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur, which brings a fresher, more authentic and juicier fruit character.
Makes 1 | Glass: chilled coupe or martini glass, plus a shot glass for the fizz
Ingredients
- 50ml vanilla vodka
- 20ml Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur
- 50ml passion fruit purée (or the pulp of 2 fresh passion fruits)
- 2 bar spoons vanilla sugar
- Chilled Champagne or Prosecco, for the shot on the side
- Half a passion fruit, to garnish
Method
- Add everything except the sparkling wine to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Fine strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
- Float half a passion fruit on top.
- Serve with a shot glass of chilled Champagne or Prosecco on the side.
To make vanilla sugar: blitz granulated sugar with split vanilla pods until combined, then sieve. Let it sit for a few days for the best flavour.
Recipe 2: The Pornstar Highball
All the flavours of the classic Pornstar, stretched.
This is sessionable and balanced. The vanilla syrup keeps the signature Pornstar flavour, while the soda and sparkling keeps it dry and refreshing.
Makes 1 | Glass: highball, filled with ice
Ingredients
- 25ml Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur
- 25ml vodka (or any other spirit: gin, white rum and tequila blanco all work – scotch or aged spirits work especially well due to the vanilla hidden within)
- 12.5ml Bristol Syrup vanilla syrup
- Soda water and sparkling wine, topped half and half (roughly 50ml of each)
- Half a passion fruit or a citrus zest, to garnish
Method
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add the Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur, vodka and vanilla syrup, and stir briefly to combine.
- Top with equal parts soda water and sparkling wine. Use Prosecco for a softer, fruitier finish, or Champagne if you want to stay true to the original dry, complex serve.
- Garnish and serve.
Tip: Swap the vodka for gin for a more botanical drink, or use a white rum for a tropical twist.
Recipe 3: The Modern Pornstar Martini
This is the version you will find in most UK bars today. Shaking with pineapple juice gives the drink its signature silky foam, and the fruit-forward profile is lighter and delicious. Using our Passion Fruit Liqueur means you get a big passion fruit hit without needing purée.
Makes 1 | Glass: chilled coupe or martini glass, plus a shot glass for the fizz
Ingredients
- 25ml Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur
- 25ml Evrythng Vodka (or any high-quality vodka)
- 75ml pineapple juice
- 10ml of citrus juice (lemon or lime is fine)
- Sugar syrup to taste
- Chilled Prosecco or Champagne, for the shot on the side
- Half a passion fruit, to garnish
Method
- Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 15 seconds to build the foam.
- Fine strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
- Float half a passion fruit on top.
- Serve with a shot of fizz on the side. Sip, repeat.
Tips for the Perfect Pornstar Martini
- Chill your glassware. A frozen coupe keeps the drink crisp to the last sip.
- Shake hard. The longer and harder you shake, the better the foam.
- Fine strain. Double straining keeps seeds and ice shards out for a smooth finish.
- Pick the right fizz. Prosecco is soft, fruity and widely used in the UK; Champagne, as in Ankrah’s original, is drier and more elegant. Cremant or Cava is an excellebt budget friendly sub, because it carries the dryness of Champagne, without the £££.
- Eat the garnish. The floating passion fruit half is DELICIOUS and wonderfully textured.
Pornstar Martini FAQs
What is in a Pornstar Martini? Vanilla vodka, passion fruit liqueur and passion fruit (or a modern version using pineapple juice), shaken and served with a shot of sparkling wine on the side.
Do you drink the shot or pour it into the cocktail? Neither is wrong, but the intended way is to sip the shot between sips of the cocktail as a palate cleanser. Some people pour a splash in, and that’s fine!
Can I use Prosecco instead of Champagne? Yes. The original used Champagne, but Prosecco is the standard choice in most UK bars and works beautifully. Also see Cremant or Cava.
Can I make a Pornstar Martini without vanilla vodka? Yes. Use a good plain vodka and add vanilla syrup or vanilla sugar, as in the recipes above.
What is the best passion fruit liqueur for a Pornstar Martini? Look for one made with real passion fruit juice and a quality spirit base. Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur uses British winter wheat vodka and passion fruit juice, and is built specifically for this cocktail.
When is Pornstar Martini Day? It is marked each year on 6 September.
Make Yours with Mouse Kingdom
From the original London bar classic to an easy-drinking highball, Mouse Kingdom Passion Fruit Liqueur makes a Pornstar Martini that tastes of real fruit. Pick up a bottle, grab some passion fruit and a bottle of fizz, and make the UK’s favourite cocktail at home.
Please drink responsibly. 18+ only.
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