It requires a little giggle when you order it, but that won’t stop you because the Pornstar Martini is a cocktail that has been popular since the very first day it landed on our cocktail menus. And, it’s not just the name that keeps us coming back for more. The blend of vanilla and passionfruit with a small serving of Prosecco on the side, has us hooked. But how do you drink a Pornstar Martini? Do you sip it, shoot it, pour the Prosecco in the glass and give it a swirl? If there’s one thing we’re exert in over here at Visit Prosecco Italy, it’s Prosecco cocktails. In this guide I’ll explain the proper way to drink a Pornstar Martini, why it’s the proper way, and then I’ll give you an easy Pornstar Martini recipe to make at home.
Who invented the Pornstar Martini?
The Pornstar Martini is a cocktail that was invented in 2002 by Douglas Ankrah at The Townhouse bar in Knightsbridge, London, England. The cocktail started life as the Maverick Martini. However, it had a quick change of name because, according to Ankrah, “it’s pure indulgence, sexy, fun and evocative.” It’s a controversial name, but it’s stuck.
What is a Pornstar Martini?
The Pornstar Martini is a sweet yet tangy vodka-based cocktail. It’s main flavours are vanilla and passion fruit. The sweetness of the vanilla comes from a combination of vanilla flavoured vodka and vodka syrup. And the passion fruit gives an exotic twist from a mix of passion fruit liquor (usually Passoa) and passion fruit pure. A slice of fresh passion fruit is usually floated on top as a garnish.
Most notably, the Pornstar Martini comes with a shot glass of Prosecco on the side. The addition of this extra glass is what makes people so confused about how to drink a Pornstar martini. Because, well, what the hell are you supposed to do with it? Let us help you out.
How to Drink a Pornstar Martini – The Theories
There is a lot of debate online and on social media about how to drink a Pornstar Martini. And there are a lot of different opinions. But which is the right one? Quick pop quiz, is it…
A) Drink the Prosecco as a shot at the beginning, before the martini
B) Drink the Prosecco as a shot after the martini
C) Sip the Prosecco alongside the martini
D) Pour the Prosecco into the martini and drink it all together
E) Sip the Prosecco first, then enjoy the martini
So, what’s the correct answer?
How to really drink a Pornstar Martini
You might think that the best thing to do is to go back to the cocktail creator, Ankrah, and see what he intended when he invented the drink. But there are conflicting reports and interviews, which confuses things even more. So, I did the next best thing. I did a taste test. No, I didn’t just go out and get sloshed on cocktails in a bar (not this time, anyway). I used my professional knowledge (my WSET Level 1 Wine school qualification). I also got the opinion of our Prosecco tour guide and Sommelier, Cris, and we also asked a bar tender. And here’s the answer:
The best way to drink a Pornstar Martini is to sip the Prosecco first. Then drink the martini.
Why is sipping the Prosecco first the ‘right’ way?
Why is this the right way to drink a Pornstar martini? Because the Prosecco is the most delicate part of the drink. The second you roll the fruit acids and sugars of the martini over your tongue, they coat your taste buds, and all the flavours from the Prosecco disappear. The same is true if you sip the Prosecco alongside the martini. But, I will come back to this, because this is the second best way to drink a Pornstar martini.
What about mixing the Prosecco into the martini? Cocktails, like cakes (or Italian pastries!), taste great because they follow finely-tuned recipe. The flavours are balanced in perfect measures to ensure the right level of sweetness, acidity, texture, etc. The Pornstar martini was created without the Prosecco flavour in the drink. When you dump the shot glass contents into the martini, you unbalance the cocktail and it just doesn’t taste right. Do a test yourself and you’ll almost certainly notice the difference. The velvety texture with the sweet, acidic martini is perfect as is, without the Prosecco. Yes, other cocktails like Bellini and Mimosa include Prosecco, but those cocktails have been blended with Prosecco as an ingredient from the start.
What about drinking the Prosecco as a shot? I get it. You’ve been trained for years that the tiny shot glass in a bar means ‘down in one’. Not so with your Pornstar martini. I suspect you’ve given a shot glass because it’s a small, cute glass that has the closest shape to a Champagne flute, without giving you a full-size glass. But that doesn’t mean the Prosecco should be drunk as a shot (at the beginning or at the end). Prosecco is delicate and, above all, fizzy. You remember from childhood (or drinking games at college) that slugging back fizzy drinks is not fun, right? Same with Prosecco.
What about sipping the Prosecco alongside the martini? There are actually some benefits to doing this, so I’m calling it the second best way to drink a Pornstar martini. I’m not hedging my bets, this one really comes down to personal preference. The passion fruit and vanilla flavours can be quite sweet and cloying for some. Sipping the Prosecco in between will act as a palate cleaner, lightening the depth of the cocktail. You won’t get the benefit of the subtle Prosecco flavours but if your goal is to cut through the martini, this is your better option. (Though, an even better option is to simply order a less sweet drink, like a Negroni, Aperol Spritz or other Italian-style Aperitivo drink).
What about the fruit garnish? In terms of flavour balance, I’d recommend sipping the Prosecco, then eating the garnish alongside your martini. Passionfruit can be tart and can also act as a breaker on the sweetness of the cocktail. You could also eat it before the martini or at the end based on personal preference, just not before the Prosecco. If you do want to enjoy the passion fruit seeds, you’re best scooping them out and eating them with a small tea spoon. They’re packed with vitamins so it might even help your hangover in the morning! Related: 15 Best Hangover Foods (and Foods to Avoid)
Recipe for Pornstar Martini
Ingredients
- 50ml/1.5oz Vanilla Vodka (such as Absolut)
- 20m/3/4/ozl Passion Fruit Liquor (such as Passoã)
- 20ml/3/4oz Vanilla Syrup
- 30ml/1oz Passionfruit Puree
- 15ml/half oz Freshly Squeezed Lime
- Passion Fruit Slice
- Brut Prosecco
How to make a Pornstar Martini
Mix together the ingredients (except the Prosecco) in a cocktail shaker with ice, then serve in a martini glass with a passionfruit slice floated on top. Serve the martini with a shot glass of chilled Prosecco on the side.
Related: Ultimate Prosecco Food and Wine Pairing Guide.
How cold should the Prosecco be?
I was shocked to see one of the big alcohol brands suggesting that you serve your Prosecco very cold to make it taste even better. Sorry, but I Absolute-ly disagree. Prosecco should be served between 6-7°C (around 41-44 Fahrenheit). That’s warmer than your average ‘just out the fridge’ temperature. Serving it colder than that chills away the taste. I suppose that could work to your advantage if it’s low-quality Prosecco, but we only ever drink the best DOCG Prosecco over here, even in our cocktails. Related: 7 Simple Steps To Host a Wine Tasting at Home.
Did you know Italy’s Prosecco wine region is only 1hr from Venice? Find out more about the Prosecco Region and check out our Prosecco Wine Tours here.
Best Prosecco for a Pornstar Martini
Brut is the best Prosecco to serve with a Pornstar martini cocktail. Brut is one of the drier, less sweet Proseccos and this balances best with the sweet martini. Remember: Prosecco sweetness (and Italian wine sweetness generally) is a confusing matter. Dry is actually sweeter than Brut – so you need to pay attention to the label when you go shopping. You might find this helpful: How To Choose The Best Prosecco – 10 Top Tips.
Prosecco or Champagne? Obviously we vote Prosecco every time. But it’s also the sparkling wine used in the original cocktail so I suggest sticking to Prosecco.
Related: 14 Famous Italian Drinks To Try In Italy (Or At Home) | 10 Top Italian Wines You Need To Know
Best glass for a Pornstar Martini
The martini part of the cocktail is best served in a classic martini glass (the one that looks like an upside down triangle). Meanwhile, the Prosecco is typically served in a small shot glass. This is what confuses the whole matter so I think we’re going to start a campaign for using a full Prosecco glass. Just to remove the confusion, not because we want more Prosecco. Honest.
Fun fact: did you know you’re probably drinking your Prosecco from the wrong glass? Find out more here: What is Prosecco? Everything You Ever Wanted To Know.
So, that’s our guide to how to drink a Pornstar Martini. Tell us, how have you been drinking it? Leave a comment below.
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