Pornstar Martini – a recipe with passion fruit and vanilla

A Pornstar Martini combines passion fruit, vanilla and fresh lime. It is usually served in a chilled stemmed glass with a little sparkling wine on the side. It is a festive New Year’s Eve cocktail, but balance matters more than garnish: purée, liqueur and syrup can make the drink too sweet when combined.

Here is a starting point you can adapt to the passion fruit purée and liqueur you use.

Pornstar Martini recipe

Ingredients for one drink

• 4 cl vanilla vodka

• 2 cl passion fruit liqueur

• 2 cl passion fruit purée

• 2 cl fresh lime juice

• 0.5–1 cl vanilla syrup

• Plenty of ice for shaking

• 4 cl chilled, dry sparkling wine on the side

• Optional: half a fresh passion fruit to garnish

Start with 0.5 cl vanilla syrup if the purée is sweetened. If you use plain vodka instead of vanilla vodka, the vanilla flavour will come mainly from the syrup. Do not automatically add more: taste the balance first.

Method

1. Chill a coupe or martini glass.
2. Measure the vodka, liqueur, purée, lime and syrup with a jigger.
3. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill generously with cold ice.
4. Shake vigorously for around 10–15 seconds.
5. Strain into the glass without ice. Use a fine sieve alongside the cocktail strainer if the purée contains fibres or you want to remove small ice shards.
6. Garnish with passion fruit and serve the wine in a small glass on the side.

The sparkling wine does not go in the shaker. It provides a dry, sparkling contrast between sips of the cocktail.

Purée or syrup – which makes the better drink?

Passion fruit purée adds body, fruit and texture. Passion fruit syrup is thinner and contributes both flavour and sweetness. They cannot simply be swapped in equal quantities.

Find fruit bases in our Monin purée range and flavoured syrups in our Monin syrup range. Check the product description and dosage, and make a test drink when changing the base. A sweetened cocktail purée does not behave like unsweetened fruit purée.

Getting the balance right

If the drink is too sweet

Reduce the vanilla syrup first. The liqueur and purée may already contain plenty of sugar. Do not simply add large amounts of lime, or you risk overpowering the passion fruit.

If the drink is too sharp

Add vanilla syrup in small steps, such as 0.25 cl at a time. Limes vary, and a recipe is a starting point rather than a guarantee of the same result with every ingredient.

If the drink is too thick

Use a little less purée next time. Make sure you shake properly too: ice chills the drink and provides the dilution that is part of the cocktail. Do not fill the shaker with so much liquid that there is no room for ice.

Pornstar Martinis for New Year’s Eve – preparing for eight guests

For eight drinks you need:

• 32 cl vanilla vodka

• 16 cl passion fruit liqueur

• 16 cl passion fruit purée

• 16 cl fresh lime juice

• 4–8 cl vanilla syrup, adjusted after tasting

• 32 cl sparkling wine to serve on the side

Mix the vodka, liqueur and your chosen amount of syrup in advance. Keep the mixture sealed in the fridge. Measure the purée and freshly squeezed lime separately on the day and keep them chilled according to the product instructions.

Shake or stir the purée until uniform before measuring. Add the lime and purée at serving time and shake in small batches with fresh ice. The quantities above are before dilution, so the mixture should not simply be poured straight into glasses as a finished cocktail.

Chill the glasses and pour the wine only when the drink is ready. Consider offering one simple drink built directly in the glass as well, so not every serving needs a shaker.

Glasses and equipment

A stemmed glass helps keep your hand away from the cold cocktail. Browse champagne glasses and coupes and choose a glass with room for the cocktail and garnish without filling it to the rim.

For preparation you need a shaker, jigger and cocktail strainer. A fine sieve is useful but not essential.

Pornstar Martini FAQ

Can I use plain vodka?

Yes. The vanilla then comes from the vanilla syrup. Start with the lower syrup quantity and adjust to taste.

Does it need egg white?

Not in this recipe. Vigorous shaking with passion fruit purée can create a lightly foamy surface without egg.

Can I leave out fresh passion fruit?

Yes. The fresh fruit is a garnish and adds aroma; the purée provides the fruit flavour in the recipe.

Can I make it without passion fruit liqueur?

Yes, but the balance will change and the drink will have less alcohol. Adjust the purée, sweetness and acidity in a test drink rather than simply replacing the liqueur with the same amount of syrup.

Should the sparkling wine be poured into the cocktail?

Serving it on the side lets guests enjoy the contrast or add a little themselves. Never shake it with the other ingredients.