Pornstar Martini.

The Pornstar Martini is the UK's most ordered cocktail — a shaken combination of vanilla vodka, fresh passion fruit, Passoa, and lime, served in a coupe glass with a shot of chilled Prosecco on the side. Created by Douglas Ankrah in London in 2002, it has become a staple at weddings, parties, and bar menus across the country.

Recipe

Pornstar Martini Recipe.

Ingredients

  • 50ml vanilla vodka
  • 15ml Passoa (passion fruit liqueur)
  • 30ml fresh passion fruit puree
  • 15ml fresh lime juice
  • 10ml vanilla sugar syrup
  • 1 fresh passion fruit (halved)
  • Chilled Prosecco (side shot)

Method

  1. 01

    Add vanilla vodka, Passoa, passion fruit puree, lime juice, and vanilla sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

  2. 02

    Shake hard for 10-15 seconds until the shaker is frost-cold on the outside.

  3. 03

    Double strain through a fine mesh sieve into a chilled coupe glass. The double strain removes passion fruit seeds and ice shards for a smooth texture.

  4. 04

    Float half a fresh passion fruit on top of the drink, cut side up.

  5. 05

    Pour chilled Prosecco into a shot glass and serve alongside the cocktail.

Pro Tips

  • Use fresh passion fruit puree, not cordial — the texture and flavour are noticeably different.
  • Chill the coupe glass in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving.
  • The Prosecco should be dry (brut), not sweet — the cocktail itself is already sweet and the contrast is the point.
  • Vanilla sugar syrup can be made at home: dissolve equal parts sugar and water with a split vanilla pod, simmer for 5 minutes, cool.
History

The Story.

The Pornstar Martini was created by Douglas Ankrah at The Townhouse bar in Knightsbridge, London, in 2002. Ankrah described his creation as the drink equivalent of "walking into a really posh strip club" — something bold, indulgent, and unapologetic. Despite the provocative name, it quickly became the UK's most popular cocktail.

The cocktail's rise was driven by its balance of sweetness and acidity, its photogenic presentation with the floating passion fruit half, and the theatre of the Prosecco side shot. By the 2010s it had overtaken the Espresso Martini and Mojito as the most ordered cocktail in UK bars. Some establishments now list it as a "Passion Star Martini" to avoid the original name, though the recipe remains the same.

At events, the Pornstar Martini is consistently the most requested cocktail. The Sesh Bars serve it at weddings, birthday parties, and corporate events across London — every one shaken fresh, never pre-batched. See the full event cocktail menu for all available serves.

At Your Event

Serve It at Your Event.

The Pornstar Martini is included on The Sesh Bars' standard event cocktail menu at £13 per serve. It is available on all package types — cash bar, all-inclusive, and dry hire (you supply the ingredients, we shake and serve). Every cocktail is made to order by a licensed bartender with a fresh passion fruit garnish and a chilled Prosecco side shot.

For weddings and private events, the Pornstar Martini works as a welcome drink, a signature cocktail on a bespoke menu, or a crowd-pleaser on a general cocktail list. Our bartenders can also create a zero-proof version using Seedlip and non-alcoholic sparkling wine — see the mocktail bar hire page for alcohol-free options.

08 — FAQ

Pornstar Martini FAQ.

What is in a Pornstar Martini? +
A Pornstar Martini contains vanilla vodka, passion fruit puree, passion fruit liqueur (Passoa), lime juice, and vanilla sugar syrup. It is shaken with ice and served in a coupe glass, garnished with half a fresh passion fruit. A shot of chilled Prosecco is served on the side.
Why is it called a Pornstar Martini? +
The cocktail was created by Douglas Ankrah at The Townhouse bar in London in 2002. He named it the Pornstar Martini because he said the drink was bold, sexy, and indulgent — something a porn star would drink. Despite the provocative name, it has become one of the most popular cocktails in the UK and is now widely known as a Passion Star Martini on some bar menus.
How do you drink the Prosecco with a Pornstar Martini? +
There is no strict rule. Some drinkers sip the Prosecco between drinks of the martini as a palate cleanser. Others pour the Prosecco directly into the coupe glass. Others drink the Prosecco shot first. All approaches are correct — the side shot is about contrast between the rich, sweet martini and the dry, crisp Prosecco.
Can you make a Pornstar Martini without Passoa? +
Yes. If you do not have Passoa (passion fruit liqueur), substitute with additional passion fruit puree and a small amount of orange liqueur (Cointreau or Grand Marnier). The result will be slightly different in sweetness and depth but still recognisably a Pornstar Martini. Some bartenders also use Funkin passion fruit puree as the base.
What glass is a Pornstar Martini served in? +
A Pornstar Martini is traditionally served in a coupe glass (a shallow, wide-brimmed glass), not a V-shaped martini glass. The coupe holds the passion fruit garnish better and gives the cocktail its signature look. The Prosecco side shot is served in a separate shot glass or small flute.
Can I hire a bartender to serve Pornstar Martinis at my event? +
Yes. The Pornstar Martini is one of the most requested cocktails at events. The Sesh Bars include it on the standard cocktail menu for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, and private parties across London. Bartenders shake each one fresh — no pre-batching. A Prosecco shot is served alongside every glass.

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