The Diplomat cocktail is ideal to imbibe during secret liaisons involving international negotiations and other clandestine affairs. It’s also a tasty tipple that you can craft at home in just five minutes.
Although the Diplomat has been tantalizing taste buds since 1922, we weren’t familiar with this particular cocktail until a reader who’s also a dear friend brought it to our attention. Thanks Kevin!
That liaison (i.e. email) was the impetus we needed to discover and master the Diplomat cocktail. Well, that and few bottles of liquor.
What Is the Diplomat Cocktail?
Technically a ‘shim’ due to its low-alcohol content and omission of hard liquor, the Diplomat is a sophisticated sipper. The cocktail combines both dry and sweet vermouth and adds splashes of maraschino liqueur and Angostura bitters for good measure.
Read The Art of the Shim: Low-Alcohol Cocktails to Keep You Level if you like to drink cocktails without the risk of a hangover.
It’s also a truly international cocktail. Originally crafted in London, the Diplomat sports a Belgian inventor and includes ingredients hailing from Italy as well as Trinidad and Tobago
History of the Diplomat Cocktail
While the Diplomat sounds like a cocktail with an exciting past involving espionage and intrigue, its history isn’t a mystery. In reality, it’s quite mundane.
Our research traces the Diplomat back to bartender Robert Vermeire who included it in his iconic 1922 book Cocktails: How to Mix Them. Originally spelled ‘Diplomate’ due to its purported popularity within the French Diplomatic Service, Vermeire’s version included a 2:1 ratio of dry and sweet vermouth plus a splash of maraschino liqueur.
The Diplomat recipe evolved over the years to include a 1:1 dry/sweet vermouth ratio. At some point, Angostura bitters negotiated their way into the recipe too.
Diplomat Cocktail Ingredients
The ingredient list required to craft a Diplomat is both short and sweet:
Despite its low alcohol content, the Diplomat recipe includes four different liquors.
Dry and sweet vermouth, the Diplomat’s two primary ingredients, are both fortified wines infused with aromatic botanicals. Long associated with teetotalers and elderly aunts, vermouth has experienced a resurgence in popularity in European countries like Italy and Spain. It’s also is a key ingredient in drinks like the Manhattan, Negroni and Boulevardier.
Discover our favorite dry vermouth cocktails and our favorite sweet vermouth cocktails.
While maraschino liqueur and bitters are supporting players in the Diplomat’s recipe, both balance the drink and are a must. We keep bottles of Luxardo maraschino and Angostura Bitters in our liquor cabinet for crafting cocktails like this one. They show up in quite a few recipes and never disappoint.
Discover our favorite maraschino liqueur cocktails
How To Craft a Diplomat Cocktail
You don’t need any special skills or tools to craft a Diplomat cocktail at home. We use the following bartender tools in our recipe:
Don’t worry if you don’t have any or all of these tools. Each is inexpensive and you can improvise in a pinch.
Discover 10 essential bar tools for home mixologists.
The first step is to measure the dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur.
We like to use a Japanese jigger but any jigger will suffice. You could also use a small angled measuring cup if you don’t have a jigger.
Buy a Japanese jigger if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
Pour the three liquids into a mixing glass or other vessel. We typically use the bottom of our Boston Shaker since it’s airtight and easy to use.
Add a dash of Angostura bitters.
Add ice and mix until the liquors are combined and chilled.
Strain the stirred cocktail into a coupe glass. You can use a small martini glass or lowball glass instead if you don’t have a coupe glass.
Buy coupe glasses with a gold rim to enhance your Diplomat experience.
Garnish with either an orange twist or maraschino cherry. We typically have both on hand and choose based on our mood.
Both garnish options work equally well.
Diplomat Cocktail FAQs
A Diplomat Cocktail is a shim crafted with both dry and sweet vermouth plus splashes of maraschino liqueur and Angostura bitters.
Dry Vermouth, Sweet Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Angostura Bitters, Orange Peel or Maraschino Cherry (garnish) and Ice (for shaking)
The Diplomat Cocktail is stirred, not shaken.
We like to use a gold-rimmed coupe glass for this cocktail but you could you a plain coupe glass or a small martini glass instead.
Diplomat Cocktail Recipe
Diplomat Cocktail
The Diplomat cocktail is both low in alcohol and high in flavor. Why not drink one during your next liaison?
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces dry vermouth
- 1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
- 1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- orange peel for garnish
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Pour dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur and bitters into a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir until ingredients are mixed and chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel twist.
Notes
- You can use a martini glass or lowball glass if you don't have a coupe glass.
- You can garnish with a maraschino cherry instead of an orange twist.
Recommended Products
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Japanese Jigger - Premium Double Cocktail Jigger, 1oz/2oz made from Stainless Steel 304 -
Hiware Professional 24 Oz Cocktail Mixing Glass, Thick Bottom Seamless Crystal Mixing Glass -
Hiware LZS13B 12 Inches Stainless Steel Mixing Spoon, Spiral Pattern Bar Cocktail Shaker Spoon -
OXO SteeL Cocktail Strainer -
Riedel Veritas Coupe Glasses, Set of 2, Clear
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About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Original Publication Date: May 13, 2021
Kevin aka The Dear Friend
Thursday 13th of May 2021
Looking forward to raising a glass with you both just as soon as it can be arranged!
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Monday 17th of May 2021
Yes! Hopefully sooner than later in Lisbon, Atlanta or some yet-to-be-determined location.