Porn Star Martini - Passion Fruit & Vanilla Vodka Cocktail with Champagne Sidecar

The Porn Star Martini combines tropical passion fruit, smooth vanilla vodka, and a separate pour of cold Champagne for a drink that is as much about the serving ritual as the flavor. The Porn Star Martini is shaken and double-strained, giving it a smooth texture and concentrated passion fruit character before the sparkling sidecar enters the picture.

A London Modern Classic

Bartender Douglas Ankrah created the drink at Townhouse in Knightsbridge, London, in the early 2000s. It was originally known as the Maverick Martini before becoming famous under its current name. The passion fruit, vanilla, and Champagne combination spread rapidly through British cocktail culture and eventually earned a place on the IBA's New Era list.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Vanilla Vodka - provides the spirit base and the drink's soft vanilla character.
• Passion Fruit Liqueur - reinforces the tropical fruit flavor while adding sweetness.
• Passion Fruit Puree - supplies the drink's tart, aromatic fruit body and texture.
• Vanilla Sugar - adds sweetness while strengthening the vanilla profile.
• Champagne - provides a dry, sparkling contrast when served alongside the cocktail.
• Passion fruit - gives the finished drink its recognizable fresh-fruit garnish.
• Sugar - finishes the passion fruit garnish with a light touch of sweetness.

For the official IBA version, use these ingredients as written. Passoã is a natural option when choosing a passion fruit liqueur. If Champagne is unavailable, a dry traditional-method sparkling wine can work for a non-IBA variation.

Equipment

You'll need a cocktail shaker, jigger, Hawthorne strainer, fine-mesh strainer, chilled Cocktail Glass, and a small shot or cordial glass for the Champagne. A sharp knife and spoon are useful for preparing the passion fruit garnish.

The Sidecar Is Part of the Point

The Porn Star Martini uses contrast unusually well. Vanilla and passion fruit make the shaken cocktail rich, tropical, and sweet, while the separate Champagne serving brings dryness, acidity, bubbles, and a second texture. Keeping the sparkling wine outside the cocktail preserves that contrast rather than diluting it into one uniform drink.

Substitutions & Variations

For a non-IBA variation, regular vodka can stand in for vanilla vodka if you add a restrained amount of vanilla syrup or vanilla sugar to compensate.

Fresh passion fruit pulp can supplement the puree when good fruit is available, though puree gives more consistent texture and flavor from drink to drink.

A dry Cava or other quality traditional-method sparkling wine can replace Champagne when needed. Choose something crisp rather than noticeably sweet so it can contrast with the passion fruit cocktail.

If you prefer a slightly drier variation, reduce the vanilla sugar rather than changing the passion fruit components. This keeps the drink's defining tropical character intact.

Helpful Tips

• Chill both glasses. The cocktail and Champagne are at their best when served properly cold.
• Shake firmly. Passion fruit puree benefits from a thorough shake and develops a smoother, slightly aerated texture.
• Double-strain. The fine strainer removes ice fragments and coarse fruit material for a cleaner finish.
• Keep the Champagne separate. The side serving is a defining part of the IBA presentation.
• Use a dry Champagne. A crisp sparkling wine provides useful contrast against the sweet vanilla and passion fruit.
• Prepare the garnish last. Fresh passion fruit looks and tastes best when it has not been sitting exposed for long.