Cast your mind back to 2002. It was the year that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck - or 'Bennifer' as they were famously referred to - started dating, Apple released its second-generation iPod - which held a whooping 10GB of storage - and the second instalment of Harry Potter was released.
It was also the year the Pornstar Martini was born - a not-so X-rated tale of accidental mixology. Created by Douglas Ankrah, owner of the Lab Bar, at his bar Townhouse in London, it is was reportedly inspired by a trip taken to a gentleman's club called Mavericks, which he visited in South Africa.
A drink designed to be "bold, sexy and playful", Ankrah originally named it Mavericks - for obvious reasons - and later re-christened it the Pornstar Martini, for no particular reason. During an interview with The Buyer Net, he explained: "I called it Pornstar because I thought it was something that a Pornstar would drink. There's nothing sexual there."
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Since then, the vanilla and passionfruit-flavoured tipple has travelled the globe and some 20 years later its popularity endures. Voted the UK's favourite cocktail in 2018, it's undergone numerous reinterpretations from its original recipe of vanilla, sugar, vodka and passionfruit liqueur and puree, finished with a side of champagne and garnished with a slice of passionfruit.
We're pretty sure anywhere you go in Manchester can whip up a Pornstar Martini - or at least they should be able to - but here's a few ideas for your next trip into Manchester.
Menagerie
When you think of the Pornstar Martini and other classy cocktails, you think of Menagerie, the Salford bar which promised buckets of glamour when it first opened in 2016. According to the team, their take on the Pornstar Martini "reflects Ménagerie as it is now, as we are always finding new inspiration and creating one of a kind mixology".
The signature drink, named 'Mine tastes better than yours’ is made with Ciroc Passion Vodka, pineapple juice, vanilla, lemon, passionfruit and an added touch of butterscotch. It also features on the bottomless brunch menu available Monday through Thursday, 12-5pm at £35 per person, and Friday through Sunday, 12-5pm at £45 per person.
Menagerie, New Bailey, Ground One, New Bailey St, Salford M3 5JL
Gusto
Personally, if I'm after a after dinner cocktail then my first port of call is usually an espresso martini due to my unwavering commitment to caffeine. However, the show can only go on so long, and Gusto's Passion Fruit Cheesecake Martini (£8) - a dessert variation - might just be the ticket. Made using Passoa passionfruit liquor, Absolut Vanilla vodka, passionfruit and vanilla syrups, orange juice, mascarpone, and topped with an almond crumb, it's truly decadent and a great alternative if you don't want to be kept awake all night.
Designated driver? Don't worry, there's a solution: The Virgin Pornstar, made using fresh grapefruit, pineapple juice, lemon, vanilla and grenadine syrup, and served with a shot of lemonade. And, for the purists, there's an original Pornstar Martini on offer too.
Gusto, 4 Lloyd St, Manchester M2 5AB
Society
Sometimes a cover song is better than the original, and in the case of Vocation & Co's riff on a Pornstar Martini that's exactly what's going on. Based inside the Society food hall next to Bridgewater Hall, 'One For The Gram' perfectly captures the very essence of the tipple, after all did it even happen if you didn't post it on Instagram?
Anyway, as the bartender who makes it said, 'this is the closest we'll ever do to a Pornstar Martini'. A potent mix of orange vodka, passionfruit liqueur, lemon juice and gomme is shaken with foaming bitters, ensuring it packs a punch.
Basement, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3BD
Miami Ice at Hatch
Over at Miami Ice - the retro Miami Beach-inspired bar with a twist - get whisked away to sunnier climes with their Tiki Pornstar Martini. Served under the neon lights, this delicious concoction serves up a tropical twist with mango Absolut, Passoa, passionfruit and vanilla syrup, fresh lime juice and pineapple juice. Topped with edible flowers, this tipple bursts onto the palette and is a great drink for those who like the sweet stuff.
Fancy another riff? They also serve the 'I Blue my Thyme Here' - a fruity rum martini of peach and orange, with hints of coconut and thyme and a splash of Blue.
Hatch, 103 Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED
Bierkeller
Who doesn't love a cocktail tree? The ideal way to avoid queuing for longer than necessary at the bar, and a great way to get your picture quickly for the gram - they really do elevate Pornstar Martinis to the next level. While some of you may be familiar with Slug & Lettuce's version, this one at Bierkeller also deserves a shout-out.
At the Printworks venue, you can order a normal Pornstar - Absolute Blue, Passoa, lemon, Funkin passionfruit, vanilla gomme, pineapple juice, a shot of prosecco, for £8, or two for £12 Sunday through Friday. It's Mar-Tree-Ni - six Pornstar Martinis - is priced at £38 for six drinks.
Bierkeller, The Printworks Withy Grove, Manchester M4 2BS
Sunset
This Spinningfields spot is perhaps best known for its 'sunshine'-infused' selection of sushi and light Asian fusion dishes, but it also boasts an extensive cocktail menu. As well as Prosecco Sorbet Sunrises and Botanical Sparkling Spritzes, there are frozen cocktails including the Gin & Elderflower Slush and the Frozen Pornstar (£11).
Blending Passoã, Belsazar Rosé, pineapple, lemon and vanilla, this chilled version of the classic isn't just for summer, and trust me, drinks of the frozen variety take much longer to drink, so you can sit back and enjoy the Passionfruit Martini experience.
Sunset by Australasia, 1 The Avenue, Manchester M3 3AP
Velvet
Established in 2005, after the long running success of Velvet Restaurant, Velvet Bar has become an under-the-radar place to visit for sumptuous cocktails in decadent surroundings. Recently refurbished, the new bar features black velvet voiles and dark moody walls with rose gold accents and smoky mirrors.
Not only do they serve a classic Pornstar Martini but they also serve an exotic twist. The Velvet Passion Berry is a take on the ever-popular cocktail featuring raspberry vodka, passion fruit, zesty orange, prosecco, and Grenadine. The drink is priced at £9.95.
Velvet, 2 Canal St, Manchester M1 3HE
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