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The Genesis of Porn Star Martini

The Porn Star Martini was created in 2002 by bartender Douglas Ankrah at The Townhouse bar (London). The cocktail’s ingredients consist of vanilla vodka, passion fruit puree, passoa, vanilla syrup, and lime juice.

The Cocktail’s Naming Journey

1. Maverick Martini: Ankrah initially named the cocktail after the “Mavericks” strip club in Cape Town, South Africa, inspired by its atmosphere.
2. Name Change: After a while, he changed its name to “Porn Star Martini“. According to Ankrah, this name reflected the cocktail’s style rather than a sexual subtext: “It looked like something porn stars would drink; bold, showy, fun, and purely self-indulgent.”

Global Rise

This recipe, which became a signature drink at the legendary LAB bar (London Academy of Bartending) later founded by Ankrah, surpassed Mojito and Espresso Martini to become the most ordered cocktail in the United Kingdom by the 2010s.

Why Is It Called “Martini”?

It does not contain gin or vermouth. The “Martini” suffix in its name is a legacy from the trend in the 1990s and early 2000s of calling modern cocktails served in stemmed (V-shaped or coupe) glasses “Martini“. Today, some bars list it as “Passion Star Martini” on their menus to avoid the provocative nature of the name.

The Detailed Genesis Story of the Cocktail and Douglas Ankrah

Bartender Douglas Ankrah, who continued his career in London, had gone to Cape Town, South Africa, for a while to write his book on cocktails titled Shaken and Stirred. According to his own statements, when he felt overwhelmed by the solitude of the book-writing process, he would go to the “Mavericks” gentleman’s club in Cape Town. Inspired by the bold, fun, and showy atmosphere of this venue, he initially named the recipe he designed “Maverick Martini” in honor of the club. When he returned to London and added the cocktail to the menu, he felt that the “Maverick” name did not fully reflect the drink’s flamboyant character, and updated its name to Porn Star Martini, saying it was “the kind of thing a porn star would order.” South Africa is where the cocktail’s first draft, original name, and feeling were born.

Douglas Ankrah’s Book

Cocktails: Shaken & Stirred, written by Douglas Ankrah, is a comprehensive cocktail guide that adapts professional bar techniques for home consumers. It achieved significant commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies, a remarkably high figure for a niche category like cocktail and mixology books.

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