London, United Kingdom · 2002

Porn Star Martini

Also known as Passion Fruit Martini

A sweet, tangy vodka cocktail flavored with passion fruit and vanilla, served with a chilled shot of prosecco on the side.

passion fruitvanillatropicalsweet and sourvodkabubblyfruitydessert cocktailparty drinkfrothy

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits you with sharp passion fruit tartness and sweet vanilla, backed by a soft, rounded body from the liqueurs. The middle is fruity and a little syruppy, while the finish is short and warm with a faint citrus peel oiliness. Sipping the prosecco alongside cuts through the richness and refreshes your palate.

Who will like it

Ideal for people who like fruity, dessert-leaning drinks with a tart edge and a bubbly chaser.

When to drink

Best as a party starter or a fun pre-dinner drink when you want something bright and a little flashy.

Ordering tip

Ask the bartender to shake it well so it gets a good frothy head, and make sure they include the prosecco sidecar.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $12–$18Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyMake aheadHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a sweet, punchy fruit bomb with a tart passion fruit edge and a soft vanilla sweetness underneath. The shaking gives it a smooth, frothy body that feels richer than a typical sour. Drinking the dry prosecco alongside is key—it scrubs the sweetness off your tongue and makes the next sip of the cocktail taste bright again. It is not a subtle or deeply complex drink, but it is fun and hits hard on the tropical flavors.

Finish: The finish is short and warm with lingering vanilla and a sticky passion fruit sweetness that the prosecco chaser wipes clean.

Primary tastes

sweetsourfruity

Secondary

floralcreamy

Aroma

tropical passion fruitvanillacitrus zest

Sweetnessvery sweet
The passion fruit liqueur, puree, and vanilla vodka make this a decidedly sweet drink.
Sournessmoderately sour
The lime and tart passion fruit puree cut through the sweetness with a sharp, fruity acidity.
Strengthmoderate strength
The combined vodka and liqueur give it a solid but not overpowering alcoholic backbone.
Refreshingfairly refreshing
The cold, fruity body is refreshing, but the sweetness and thick foam keep it from being truly thirst-quenching.
Creaminessmedium body
The puree and vigorous shaking give the drink a soft, frothy, almost creamy mouthfeel.
Complexityfairly simple
The flavor is straightforward and fruit-driven without deep layers or herbal notes.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on Vodka. A clean, neutral vodka works best here

Before you start

Chill a coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand. Cut your fresh passion fruit in half and have your lime juice and puree ready to go.

Ingredients

VodkaBase Spirit40ml
PassoaLiqueurPassion fruit liqueur; Passoa is the standard brand30ml
Vanilla VodkaLiqueurAdds a sweet vanilla kick; some recipes use vanilla syrup instead20ml
Passion Fruit PureeJuiceUnsweetened puree preferred to balance the liqueurs30ml
Lime JuiceJuiceFreshly squeezed15ml
Sugar SyrupoptionalSyrupAdjust based on the sweetness of your puree and liqueur10ml
ProseccoWineServed chilled in a separate shot glass on the side60ml shot
Passion Fruit HalfGarnishFresh passion fruit, cut in half1 half

Garnish: Passion fruit half

Tools

Cocktail Shaker · Shaking
To shake and chill the drink while creating a good frothy texture from the puree and citrus.
At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid
Jigger · Measuring
To measure the liquids accurately, especially the tart lime against the sweet liqueurs.
At home: A measuring shot glass
Hawthorne Strainer · Straining
To catch the ice and any passion fruit seeds when pouring the drink into the glass.
At home: A fine mesh tea strainer
Coupe Glass · Serving
To serve the cocktail; the wide bowl shows off the foam and garnish nicely.
At home: A white wine glass
Shot Glass · Serving
To serve the prosecco chaser alongside the cocktail.
At home: A small espresso cup
Fine Mesh Strainer · optional · Straining
To double strain the drink and keep out the gritty passion fruit seeds for a smoother texture.
Bar Spoon · optional · Mixing
To stir the prosecco before serving if needed.
At home: A long teaspoon

Steps

1
Take your cocktail shaker and pour in 40ml vodka, 30ml passion fruit liqueur, and 20ml vanilla vodka. Add 30ml passion fruit puree, 15ml fresh lime juice, and 10ml sugar syrup if your puree is tart. This is your base, so make sure the jigger hits the mark on each pour.
!Using cheap vanilla vodka that tastes artificially sweet and chemical.
2
Fill the shaker about two-thirds full with ice cubes. Secure the lid tightly so it won't leak when you shake. Give it a good tap on top to make sure the seal is set.
!Overfilling with ice, which leaves no room for the liquid to move and dilute properly.
3
Shake the shaker hard for about 10 to 12 seconds. The passion fruit puree and lime juice need a vigorous shake to whip up a good frothy head. You will know you are done when the outside of the metal shaker feels very cold and frosty to the touch.
~12s
!Shaking too gently, which leaves the drink flat and fails to create the signature foam on top.
4
Pop the lid off and pour the contents through a Hawthorne strainer into your chilled coupe glass. For a smoother drink without seeds or pulp, hold a fine mesh tea strainer over the glass and pour through both strainers at once.
!Letting passion fruit seeds slip into the glass, which creates a gritty texture at the bottom.
5
Take your halved fresh passion fruit and place it cut-side up on the surface of the drink so it floats. The frothy top should hold it in place. If it sinks, your shake might not have been hard enough.
!Placing the garnish skin-side up, which hides the bright seeds and ruins the visual.
6
Pour 60ml of chilled prosecco into a small shot glass and set it right next to the coupe on a small plate or coaster. The drink is meant to be sipped alongside the bubbly, either alternating or poured in.
!Pouring the prosecco directly into the cocktail, which kills the foam and ruins the layered drinking experience.

Serve

Serve it right away while the drink is icy cold and the foam is still holding. The coupe goes on the plate with the prosecco shot right beside it.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Passoa

PassoaGiffard Passion Fruit Liqueur
Match
Specialty availability
Passoa → Giffard Passion Fruit Liqueur: Slightly less sweet with a more natural, concentrated passion fruit taste.
PassoaPassion Fruit Syrup
Match
Common availability
Passoa → Passion Fruit Syrup: Adds sweetness and fruit flavor without the extra alcohol, making the drink slightly less strong.

Swap options for Vanilla Vodka

Vanilla VodkaPlain Vodka plus Vanilla Syrup
Match
Common availability
Vanilla Vodka → Plain Vodka plus Vanilla Syrup: Gives you more control over the sweetness level while keeping the vanilla flavor intact.

Swap options for Prosecco

ProseccoCava
Match
Common availability
Prosecco → Cava: A bit drier and slightly more acidic, which cuts the cocktail's sweetness even more effectively.
ProseccoChampagne
Match
Common availability
Prosecco → Champagne: Adds more toastiness and depth to the bubbly sidecar, though it is a pricier option.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Espresso Martini

The Espresso Martini swaps the passion fruit for coffee liqueur and fresh espresso, trading tropical fruit for roasted, bitter coffee notes.

Match

Both are sweet, shaken vodka cocktails with a thick foam cap, but the Porn Star Martini is bright and fruity while the Espresso Martini is dark, bitter, and coffee-heavy.

In common: vodka-based, shaken, served in a coupe, modern British cocktail scene staple, sweet and rich body

Ingredients

Both share

Vodka, Sugar Syrup

Only in Porn Star Martini

Passoa, Vanilla Vodka, Passion Fruit Puree, Lime Juice, Prosecco

Only in Espresso Martini

Coffee Liqueur, Espresso

Both drinks rely on vodka and sugar syrup, but the Porn Star Martini builds its flavor with tropical fruit and citrus, while the Espresso Martini builds it with coffee and dark liqueur.

Flavor

Shared flavors

sweet and rich body, frothy head from shaking, cold and strong vodka base

How Espresso Martini differs

tropical and tart vs. roasted and bitter, light and fruity vs. dark and heavy

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour uses bourbon or whiskey as its base, bringing warm baking spices and oak instead of neutral vodka and tropical fruit.

Match

They share a basic sweet-and-sour skeleton, but the Whiskey Sour is warm and grain-driven while the Porn Star Martini is light, fruity, and tropical.

In common: sour family, shaken, citrus-forward, sweet and sour balance

Ingredients

Both share

Sugar Syrup, Lime Juice

Only in Porn Star Martini

Vodka, Passoa, Vanilla Vodka, Passion Fruit Puree, Prosecco

Only in Whiskey Sour

Bourbon Whiskey, Egg White, Angostura Bitters

The Porn Star Martini uses the same sour structure of citrus and syrup but skips the egg white and swaps the whiskey base for vodka and passion fruit modifiers.

Flavor

Shared flavors

tart citrus bite, sweet and sour balance, shaken chill

How Whiskey Sour differs

tropical and fruity vs. oaky and grainy, light body vs. richer spirit weight

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Margarita

The Margarita uses tequila and orange liqueur for a dry, earthy bite, whereas the Porn Star Martini uses vodka and passion fruit for a sweeter, fruitier profile.

Match

Both are sharp and citrusy, but the Margarita is a dry, earthy, salt-rimmed drink and the Porn Star Martini is a sweet, fruity, dessert-like cocktail.

In common: sour family, citrus-forward, shaken, strong and tart

Ingredients

Both share

Lime Juice

Only in Porn Star Martini

Vodka, Passoa, Vanilla Vodka, Passion Fruit Puree, Sugar Syrup, Prosecco

Only in Margarita

Tequila, Triple Sec, Salt

Both lean heavily on fresh lime, but the Margarita is a lean agave-and-orange drink while the Porn Star Martini piles on sweet fruit liqueurs and puree.

Flavor

Shared flavors

sharp lime acidity, cold and refreshing impact

How Margarita differs

sweet and fruity vs. dry and earthy, vanilla and tropical notes vs. agave and salt

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

Douglas Ankrah created the drink in 2002 at The Townhouse bar in London. He reportedly named it after the flashy, confident vibe he associated with the cocktail, aiming for something that felt fun and a bit provocative rather than strictly traditional.

Creator: Douglas Ankrah at The Townhouse
Era: 2000s
Confidence

The original recipe by Douglas Ankrah uses a specific ratio of vanilla vodka and passion fruit liqueur; variations exist but the core components are universally agreed upon.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Shake harder than you think to get that thick foam cap.
Taste your passion fruit puree first and adjust the sugar syrup accordingly.
Always serve the prosecco on the side to keep the cocktail's texture intact.
Double strain if you hate seeds getting in your teeth.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Do not pour the prosecco directly into the cocktail.
Do not skip the fresh lime juice; bottled juice makes it taste flat.
Do not use artificial vanilla flavoring; it ruins the finish.