Passion Fruit Martini
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 24.3% ABV ∙
The Passion Fruit Martini is a shaken vodka sour built on fresh passion fruit, closely related to the Pornstar Martini and served up in a martini glass. Tart tropical passion fruit leads, softened by vanilla and a touch of sweetness, finishing with a fruity tang — a bright, celebratory cocktail-hour or party drink.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Cut Passion fruit 2 pcs in half and scoop out the flesh into the shaker
- Shake the remaining ingredients with ice: Vodka 60 mlBianco vermouth 10 mlSugar syrup 10 mlPassion fruit syrup 5 mlVanilla bitters 2 dashesSaline solution 1 dash
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Float the remaining half a passion fruit for garnish
Tips
- Scoop the seeds and pulp from both fresh passion fruits straight into the shaker so the flavor distributes fully.
- Shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds — syrup-heavy builds need a vigorous shake for a smooth, chilled finish.
- Pick wrinkly, deep-purple passion fruit; smooth-skinned fruit is underripe and will taste harshly sour.
- The vanilla bitters are optional but add the vanilla note that defines the Pornstar-style version of this drink.
History
The Passion Fruit Martini is a modern structural riff on the classic Pornstar Martini—an iconic template originally created by bartender Douglas Ankrah at London’s The Townhouse in 2002. While Ankrah's 2000s recipe cemented the global popularity of pairing passion fruit with sweet vanilla and a sparkling wine sidecar, this contemporary variation deliberately strips away those sweeter elements. By integrating a fortified wine modifier—specifically bianco vermouth—into its vodka base, the recipe transforms the club-style drink into a drier, botanical, and spirit-forward serve that aligns with classic early 20th-century Martini formats.
FAQ
What is a Passion Fruit Martini made of?
A Passion Fruit Martini is built on fresh passion fruit and vodka, rounded out with bianco vermouth, sugar syrup, and a little passion fruit syrup, with optional vanilla bitters. It is shaken and served up in a martini glass, garnished with half a passion fruit.
How do you make a Passion Fruit Martini?
Scoop the pulp and seeds from fresh passion fruit into a shaker with vodka, bianco vermouth, sugar syrup, passion fruit syrup, and optional vanilla bitters. Add ice, shake hard, then strain into a chilled martini glass and float half a passion fruit on top.
Is a Passion Fruit Martini shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The fresh fruit, seeds, and syrups need a hard shake to combine, chill, and aerate the drink, which also gives the surface its characteristic frothy look before straining into the glass.
What is a Passion Fruit Martini also called?
It is very often called a Pornstar Martini, and many published recipes treat the two names as the same drink. The classic Pornstar version is a vodka and passion fruit cocktail usually served with a shot of prosecco or champagne on the side.
What is the best vodka for a Passion Fruit Martini?
A clean, neutral vodka works best, letting the passion fruit and vanilla lead. Some recipes use passion fruit flavored vodka for extra intensity, but plain vodka plus fresh fruit and passion fruit syrup, as in this recipe, delivers plenty of flavor.
What makes a Passion Fruit Martini frothy?
The froth comes from shaking the fruit pulp and syrups hard with ice, which aerates the mix. For a denser, longer-lasting foam, some bartenders add an egg white and dry-shake before adding ice.
