Celebrate Pornstar Martini Day with the Perfect Pornstar Martini

Raise a martini glass (and don’t forget the shot glass filled with champagne!) in honor of Pornstar Martini Day!

That’s right, September 6 is the day the world toasts this iconic neo-martini, also known today as the Passion Star Martini.

Originally named the Maverick Martini, it was invented in London in 1999 by a late Ghanaian-born bartender, bar owner, and entrepreneur. In 2002, it was renamed the Pornstar Martini and gained fame overnight, not only because of its name but because it’s one of the best cocktails around.

What is in a Pornstar Martini?

A Pornstar Star Martini is made with passion fruit purée, vanilla syrup, fresh pineapple and vanilla-flavored vodka.

The cocktail is shaken then double strained into a chilled martini glass and garnished with a passion fruit half floating in the drink. And let’s not forget the accompanying shot of champagne (or prosecco) that sits elegantly beside the cocktail.

While Absolut Vanilia, our vanilla-flavored vodka, works incredibly well in many cocktails, there’s something special about the way it tastes in a Pornstar Martini. Those warm, creamy bourbon vanilla notes, accented by hints of toffee, caramel, and dark chocolate, work beautifully with the tart passion fruit, and tropical pineapple sweetness.

Tips for Making the Perfect Pornstar Martini

As with any cocktail, creating a delicious Pornstar Martini hinges on achieving the right balance and using fresh ingredients. This means using real passion fruit, muddling fresh pineapple, and squeezing lime juice yourself.

If you cut corners, you’ll end up with a drink that tastes artificial and unbalanced. Trust us, you don’t want to drink a Pornstar Martini that’s overly sweet and where the passionfruit tastes like concentrate or syrup.

With this mind, here’s three tips for making the perfect Pornstar Martini:

Muddle fresh pineapple

When picking a ripe pineapple to muddle, focus on its look, smell, and feel. Choose a pineapple with a deep golden color, especially at the base, and a sweet fragrance.

After you’ve your pineapple, peel it, remove the core, then cut some pieces for muddling.

Use a muddler to crush the pineapple, ensuring you extract all its juices. This step also releases complex proteins, which will add body to your drink and help build that foamy head on top.

Choosing passion fruit for your Pornstar Martini

We recommend purchasing your passion fruit a few days before you plan to make your drink, allowing it to ripen and develop a sweeter, more flavorful taste.

But if you’re reading this on Pornstar Martini Day, then be sure to select a ripe passion fruit at the store. How do you identify a ripe one? Look for passion fruits with wrinkled skin, as they’re usually extra ripe and sweeter.

We also recommend making your own passion fruit purée. Simply scoop the pulp from several passion fruits into a blender, add one teaspoon of water per fruit, and some sugar to taste. Blend the mixture and strain it through a sieve for a smooth purée. Voila!

Double strain your Pornstar Martini

Last but not least, you’ll need to double strain your drink by using a Hawthorne strainer together with a fine strainer.

“It’s gonna take a little bit of a while to get all of this out,” warns Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador. “That’s because the fresh pineapple kind of acts like a filter with all those fibers in there.”

So, be patient while straining – the end result will be worth the wait.

The first sip – how to drink a Pornstar Martini

Everyone remembers the first time they ordered a Pornstar Martini at a bar. The cocktail arrives in a martini glass, accompanied by a small shot glass of champagne. You look around, and you wonder what to do. Should you down the shot after finishing your Pornstar Martini or do you sip the shot first and then later the Pornstar Martini?

The answer? You should enjoy the champagne between sips of your cocktail – kind of like a palette cleanser.

Lastly, although it’s common to use prosecco instead of champagne, since we’re celebrating Pornstar Martini Day, we say make it an occasion and grab a bottle of champagne and toast to one of the greatest modern cocktails around.