A 4-minute read: this is a quick update on a recent batch I enjoyed, plus a suggestion for pre-making and storing them in the freezer in jars, which can save you time when it comes to serving. It’s also a really handy way of using up your passion fruits if you buy them in bulk or can only get them periodically. Enjoy!

The Personal Journey

I used to think Porn Star Martinis were a fad. It’s a fruity cocktail. There’s no gin. It has nothing to do with the martini world. What’s with the chaser?

But then I made one.

They’re definitely more of a faff to produce than a classic martini, and they’re never, ever going to replace the silver bullet as my drink of choice.

And yet, the arguable enfant terrible of the martini world is a thing of creative genius.

The Creator

Indeed, its inventor, the late charming and entrepreneurial Douglas Ankrah never meant for his drink to be provocative. He wanted it to be something that felt bold and fun to order.

He certainly succeeded, but apart from its brand and image associations, it’s a genuinely delicious cocktail – and I’m someone who rarely drinks any cocktail other than a martini.

The vanilla smoothness, the cold vodka, the tart lime and explosive passion fruit are a treat on their own, then somehow adding in a chilled shot of sparkling wine launches it into the stratosphere. It balances sweet and sour, smooth and fizzy, syrupy and lush, with the satisfying crunch of passion fruit seeds. It’s a flavour and texture extravaganza.

Batch Buying

Subsequently when I saw a bumper crop of passion fruits for sale at Borough Market I knew I had to buy a batch. It can be a crowded nightmare sometimes, but earlier in the morning the market is a source of wild inspiration with its stalls of fresh, fascinating produce from rural Britain and far, far beyond.

They were selling a selection of passion fruits from Latin America but they also had these juicy red-coloured varieties from South East Asia. I bought a batch of both and a stranger passing by in the crowd said I must have good taste.

I’m British so my inherent experience with passion fruit is limited but I think he was right because they were delicious on their own, let alone combined with a heady cocktail. The seeds are like a sweet and sour crunchy caviar.

Swedish Douse Mafia

I already had the other ingredients for the cocktail at home. I use Absolut Vanilla vodka so I put it in the freezer.

As an aside, it just feels right to use a Swedish brand in a Porn Star Martini.

I put the v-shaped martini glasses and shot glasses for the sparkling wine into the freezer as well.

Additionally I had limes, Monin vanilla syrup (you can buy it direct from their website), Passoã, and of course, sparkling wine. I put them in the fridge to chill before the evening.

The passion fruits I left out at room temperature. I wanted them to be nice and juicy when it came to the cocktail hour.

When it was time to serve, I poured the drinks using the standard recipe (I’ve posted it on this site) and enjoyed a really nice evening with a neighbour.

Squeezing out the value

However, I still had a bunch of passion fruits left over. What did I do?

I cut them open, scooped them out and premade a couple more bases for future martinis, including lime juice, vanilla syrup, Passoã and vodka as per the standard recipe.

A Handy Hint

I stored the pre-made martinis in jars from IKEA that I previously wrote about. Let’s keep the Swedish theme going.

I was then able to mix up some more cocktails later, with some freshly bought sparkling wine, albeit without a half passion fruit for a garnish, just the juice and the seeds.

This is a great option if you only have periodic access to fresh passion fruit or when it’s easier to buy in bulk. It also means you can mix up Porn Star Martinis for guests pretty quickly, which will ensure that you remain popular in your local friendship circle.

Have a further read on the Porn Star Martini page, especially if you’d like to learn more about the drink’s Ghana-born creator.

And please share in the comments any experiences you’ve had with this bold and fun concoction!

Enjoy!