Paper Plane Recipe
Equal parts bourbon, Aperol, amaro and lemon.
The Paper Plane is a modern classic made with equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and fresh lemon juice, shaken and served up. It is bittersweet, bright and balanced, and because every ingredient is the same measure it is very easy to remember.
Ingredients
- 25 ml Bourbon
- 25 ml Aperol
- 25 ml Amaro Nonino Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
- 25 ml Fresh lemon juice
Garnish: None, or a lemon twist
How to Make a Paper Plane
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon juice to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
- Double strain into the chilled coupe.
- Serve without a garnish, or with a small lemon twist.
Best Bottles for a Paper Plane in India
Soft wheated bourbon that lets the amaro show
Higher proof keeps the whiskey in front
Light, so the drink leans bittersweet
Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.
Tips for a Better Paper Plane
- Keep the four parts equal. In US measures it is 0.75 oz of each.
- Use a bourbon of 43 to 50% ABV so that it is not lost behind the two liqueurs.
- Use fresh lemon juice only. Bottled juice flattens the drink.
About the Paper Plane
The Australian-born bartender Sam Ross created the Paper Plane in 2008 for a menu at The Violet Hour in Chicago, while he was working at Milk & Honey in New York. He named it after "Paper Planes" by M.I.A., the song he was listening to while developing it.
The drink is a variation on the Last Word, a Prohibition-era cocktail built on four equal parts. Ross's first version used Campari. He switched to Aperol within days because Campari was too bitter for the bourbon.
It spread from bartender to bartender without any advertising, and by the 2010s it was a standard call in American, British and Australian cocktail bars. The IBA added it to its official list in 2020. Amaro Nonino, a grappa-based amaro from Friuli in northern Italy, is the one ingredient with no perfect substitute.
Paper Plane Variations
- Naked and Famous: equal parts mezcal, Aperol, yellow Chartreuse and lime.
- Last Word: equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime.
- Rye Paper Plane: rye whiskey for a spicier, drier drink.
- Montenegro Paper Plane: Amaro Montenegro when Nonino is unavailable.
- Scotch Paper Plane: a blended Scotch for a lighter, honeyed version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Paper Plane?
How strong is a Paper Plane?
What can you use instead of Amaro Nonino?
What is the best bourbon for a Paper Plane?
What does a Paper Plane taste like?
Who invented the Paper Plane?
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