A little sweet, a little bitter, and perfectly complex, the Paper Plane is a modern cocktail that combines classic flavors from bourbon, Aperol, Amaro, and lemon juice. No garnish is needed except, of course, for a paper plane.
If you love the bitterness of an Aperol Spritz, but enjoy the body of a old fashioned, the Paper Plane cocktail may just be the perfect drink for you.
This modern cocktail was created in 2008 by NYC bartender Sam Ross and is the perfect marriage of bourbon, Amaro, and Aperol.
The Paper Plane cocktail is the perfect aperitivo to serve at dinner parties alongside your favorite snacks and appetizers, like taralli, mozzarella en carrozza, and fried zucchini.
Recipe Ingredients
All ingredients for this recipe are shown in the pic below and special notes are made in this bulleted list to assist you.
- Bourbon. Since this is the foundation of the paper plane, I recommend using a good quality bourbon. Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark, or Evan Williams would all work.
- Amaro Nonino. This Italian spirit has a grappa base and is infused with botanicals and herbs. Amaro Nonino is lighter and less bitter than other amaros which is why it was used for the paper plane.
- Aperol. This bitter Italian spirit, which is technically also an amaro, is infused with orange, herbs, and spices and is on the sweeter side.
- Lemon. Fresh squeezed lemon juice is recommended for best results.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
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If you enjoy the combination of flavors in the Paper Plane cocktail, give these other recipes a try.
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Paper Plane
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce Aperol
- 3/4 ounce Amaro Nonino
- 3/4 ounce bourbon
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
Instructions
- Add a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker along with the Aperol, Amaro, bourbon, and lemon juice and shake for 15 seconds.
- Strain into a coupe glass and serve immediately. The cocktail can be garnished with a paper plane or an orange or lemon twist. Enjoy!
Notes
- Though you can buy ready-made paper planes online, it is quite simple to fold a small blue post it note into a plane shape. The plane can be attached with a small drink clip or metal skewer.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Great cocktail. A bit tart but very refreshing. A good drink for those that think they don’t like bourbon.
Yes, your formula for the Paper Plane is a winner. We like a touch less fresh lemon juice. Our original recipe called for equal parts of each of the 4 ingredients. To be sure, it is a matter of taste.
Happy you enjoyed, Suz!