Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Pornstar Martini

A modern smash hit: vanilla-scented vodka shaken with passion fruit and lime, served with a sidecar of fizz. Fruity, tart and fun.

Preparation~3 minEasyStrengthMediumabout 15% ABVMethodShaken8 guided stepsIngredients5Martini (cocktail) glass

Sparkling

In the glassVodka · Passion fruit purée · Fresh lime juice · Simple syrup · Prosecco

See exact amounts

Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

Start making

What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear martini glass with an angular V-shaped bowl and slender stem. — Serving glassMartini glass

Set up before you pour

Use a martini glass.

The stem protects a cold up drink from your hand; the open V-shaped bowl presents its aroma immediately.

Standard size: 180 ml6 oz
Ice & serve: Chill it first; serve without ice.
If you don’t own one: Use a coupe or another small stemmed cocktail glass.

Tools to set out

cocktail shaker
strainer (or a small sieve)
jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your martini (cocktail) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Vodka45 ml
Prosecco60 ml
Passion fruit purée30 ml
Fresh lime juice15 ml
Simple syrup15 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Measure into the shaker
Pour 45 ml vodka into your shaker
- Vodka
02
Measure into the shaker
Add 30 ml passion fruit purée
- Passion fruit purée
03
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml fresh lime juice
- Fresh lime juice
04
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml simple syrup
- Simple syrup
05
Ice the shaker
Fill the shaker with ice
Why it mattersFill it right up — more ice chills faster with less watering down.
06
Seal and shake
Seal and shake hard
Why it mattersCold hands mean it’s working. Shake until the tin frosts over.
07
Strain cleanly
Strain into a chilled glass — no ice
Why it mattersPour through the strainer so the spent shaker ice stays behind.
08
Top gently
Top with 60 ml prosecco
- Prosecco

Know your drink

About the Pornstar Martini

A copper mug, Espresso Martini and clear vodka highball against evening city lights.

Born as the Maverick

Douglas Ankrah, a London bartender, usually gets the credit, having put it on the list at his Townhouse bar in Knightsbridge in the early 2000s. He called it the Maverick Martini first, after a club in Cape Town, before landing on the name that stuck. Ankrah died in 2021, by which point it was regularly named Britain's best-selling cocktail, and plenty of chain menus still print it as a Passion Star Martini.

Passion fruit is the whole drink, and ripe means ugly, with wrinkled skin that has started to collapse. Smooth glossy fruit is underripe and sour with none of the perfume. Scoop the pulp, seeds and all, and shake it hard enough to knock the seeds loose — that shredded pulp is what builds the foam. Vanilla comes from a vanilla vodka or a bar spoon of vanilla syrup, and a half shell floated on top is the garnish.

Common questions

Pornstar Martini FAQ

What do you do with the prosecco shot?

Your call — sip it between tastes of the cocktail (the intended serve, as creator Douglas Ankrah designed it in 2002 London), or tip it in for a fizzy top. Serving it alongside keeps the drink from going watery.

What ingredients are in a Pornstar Martini?

A classic Pornstar Martini calls for 45 ml (1.5 oz) Vodka, 30 ml (1 oz) Passion fruit purée, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Fresh lime juice, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Simple syrup, 60 ml (2 oz) Prosecco. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Pornstar Martini?

A standard Pornstar Martini is roughly 15% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a Pornstar Martini shaken or stirred?

A Pornstar Martini is shaken — the rule of thumb is to shake anything with citrus juice. About 13 seconds with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it correctly.

What glass do you serve a Pornstar Martini in?

Serve a Pornstar Martini in a martini glass, well chilled — this drink is served without ice, so a cold glass keeps it cold.

How many calories are in a Pornstar Martini?

One Pornstar Martini has approximately 230 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

Sharpen the technique