Porn Star Martini

Review:

A passion fruit and vanilla crowd-pleaser that's balanced with zesty lime, often served with sparkling wine on the side.

Variant:

Gargoyle No. 2 (published 1937)

History:

Adapted from a recipe created in 2002 by Douglas Ankrah at The Townhouse bar in Knightsbridge, London. Douglas also founded London's LAB bar which is perhaps more associated with this cocktail.

This cocktail was originally named the Maverick Martini after a nightclub in Cape Town, South Africa which Douglas frequented, a story he recounts in his 2004 book, Shaken & Stirred.

Maverick Martini or Porn Star Martini
Named after a louche Cape Town nightclub I frequented while writing this book. The shot of Champagne on the side of the beautifully coloured passionfruit and vanilla Martini makes this a very seductive drink. The first time I made these in Townhouse the whole bar was ordering them by the end of the night.

2 Martini glasses, preferably frozen, and tall shot glasses for Champagne on the side.

80ml Cariel Vanilla Vodka
15ml Passoa (passionfruit liqueur)
flesh and seeds of 4 passionfruit
5 teaspoons vanilla sugar
100ml Champagne
1 passionfruit, halved
hard ice cubes

Method:
Shake all the ingredients except the Champagne, the halved passionfruit and 1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar in a Boston shaker, and then strain into glasses. Separately, pour out 2 glasses of Champagne and dust the halved passionfruit with the remaining sugar. Dunk the passionfruit in the martini glasses, with spoons: the idea is to fish out the fruit, eat it with the spoon, drink the Champagne and then enjoy the cocktail at leisure.

Douglas Ankrah, Shaken & Stirred, 2004

More Fresh Fruit Martinis