Happy Hour With 3 Ingredients: Trashy Diplomat
Happy Friday my friends and welcome back to Happy Hour with 3 Ingredients , a weekly drinks column featuring super simple yet delicious libations. This week I am making a less elaborate version of one of my favorite drinks for long-term use: the Diplomat cocktail.
A vermouth-based drink is as practical as it tastes; By using vermouth as the main source or ethanol, you get a cocktail with much lower alcohol content, allowing you to stay diplomatic for as long as possible. I met them when I met a dishwasher who worked late into the bar, trying to stay “on” by the time he finished work.
In addition to being more suitable for sessions, they are also delightful. They are usually made with both sweet and dry vermouth and maraschino liqueur , but we’re going to play with this last bite. I have nothing against maraschino, but this is not the most common bottle for a home bar, and I have gone all out right now. However, I have cocktail cherries in my fridge and their sweet syrup is not bad. To make this slightly subtle iteration of the classic, you’ll need:
- 2 ounces dry vermouth
- 30 g sweet vermouth (rosso)
- 1/8 ounce liquid from your favorite cocktail cherry can
Combine everything in a stirring glass filled with ice, stir to cool and thin, then strain into a small ball over a large stone. While this particular Diplomat won’t be as subtle and polished as his real friends, he is still a tasty little number. It is also a great use for vermouth that hangs in your refrigerator for too long; waste is such a tragic thing.