If you go to any bar today, you will likely see someone drinking a yellow cocktail with a half-passionfruit floating on top and a side of bubbles. This is the Pornstar Martini.

But where did that name come from, and who decided we should drink it with a side of Prosecco?

The Creator: Douglas Ankrah

Finally, I found younger drink than me! Pornstar Martini was born in 2002 in London. It was created by a legendary bartender named Douglas Ankrah at his famous bar, The Townhouse.

Douglas was a genius in the bar world. He didn’t just want to make a drink; he wanted to make an “experience.” He wanted something that was stylish, fun, and a little bit provocative.

The Inspiration: A Trip to South Africa

The idea didn’t actually start in London. It started when Douglas visited a “gentleman’s club” called Mavericks in Cape Town, South Africa.

He wasn’t looking for a “pornstar” or he was, we do not judge, he was looking for a feeling. He loved the smell of the perfumes in the air and the glamorous, high-energy atmosphere. He wanted to create a drink that tasted like that feeling: bold, sweet, and “pure indulgence.”

Why that name?

When he got back to London, he mixed Vanilla Vodka, Passionfruit, and Lime. He originally called it the Maverick Martini after the club in South Africa.

But our naughty Douglas was a master of marketing, I wish he can help me as well. He realized that calling it the “Pornstar Martini” would make it unforgettable. He once said he named it that because it’s exactly what a pornstar would drink: it’s loud, it’s flashy, and it’s a bit “extra.”

The “Sidecar” of Bubbles

The most unique part of the drink is the small shot of Prosecco or Champagne on the side.

Douglas didn’t want you to pour the bubbles into the drink. The idea was to take a sip of the cocktail, then a sip of the cold bubbles to cleanse your palate, and then go back to the sweetness of the passionfruit. It’s a ritual that makes the drink feel like a celebration.

The Recipe:

• 1.5 oz (45ml) Vanilla Vodka
• 0.5 oz (15ml) Passionfruit Liqueur (Passoa)
• 2 oz (60ml) Passionfruit Purée
• 0.5 oz (15ml) Fresh Lime Juice
• 0.25 oz (7ml) Vanilla Syrup
• Side: A chilled shot of Prosecco

Instructions: Shake all the main ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. Top with half a passionfruit and serve the bubbles on the side.

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