Named after M.I.A.’s hit song, the Paper Plane cocktail was created for the opening of the Violet Hour in Chicago by bartender Sam Ross circa 2007. (FYI, Ross also developed the Penicillin). Now considered a modern-classic cocktail, early iterations of the drink balanced the bittersweet Italian liqueur Campari with nutty Amaro Nonino, bourbon, and lemon juice, explains Robert Simonson in The Encyclopedia of Cocktails, but Ross swapped out higher-proof Campari for its more delicate sibling Aperol when he put it on the menu at New York City bars Milk & Honey and Little Branch. Since then the drink’s popularity has spread across North America.
If you’re new to mixing drinks, this aperitif is a good place to start since it’s an equal-parts cocktail recipe (and there’s no complicated garnish to master…unless you want to shape cute little orange or grapefruit zest airplanes). While a coupe is the traditional cocktail glass for serving it, a Nick and Nora glass (or even a rocks glass) would work if that’s what you have on hand.
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is still the amaro of choice for this drink recipe, but you can play around, swapping it out for Montenegro, Averna, Sfumato, or another bottle that looks enticing.
Recipe information
Total Time
2 minutes
Yield
Makes 2
Ingredients
1½
1½
1½
1½
2
Preparation
Combine 1½ oz. amaro (preferably Nonino), 1½ oz. Aperol, 1½ oz. bourbon, 1½ oz. fresh lemon juice, strained, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds. Strain into 2 coupe glasses. Twist a 1 wide strip of orange peel (if using) over each glass to express its oils, drop the peel into the glass, and serve.
Editor’s note: This Paper Plane cocktail recipe was first printed in our February 2016 issue. Head this way for more of our favorite bourbon cocktails →
Leave a Review
Reviews (131)
Back to TopI love equal parts. We couldn’t find Amaro nonino so used amaro averna. Delicious but brown cocktail. So we’ll continue our search for amaro nonino for presentation purposes.
Anonymous
St. Petersburg, Fl
5/9/2023
I love a paper plane (ish) but don't do equal parts. 1.5 oz bourbon 1 oz each other ingredient, for one (one and done) drink. Such a solid recipe it's easy to modify too. I disagree about it needing good bourbon but it does benefit from assertive bourbon, particularly if making as written. Amaro Nonino or Amaro di Toscana. Or Heirloom Pineapple Amaro.
RobinFL
South of the south
9/27/2022
Averna Amaro, Woodford, Aperol, and half the lemon juice. Fabulous! I'm a big Boulevardier fan, and this a nice change of pace, but not too different
Bill M
NJ
7/11/2022
Definitely my wife's favorite and one of my favorite cocktails. Choose a good bourbon (at least Woodford's level), and stick with the others listed. We enjoyed one last night. As someone else wrote, this recipe came from Milk & Honey, not Pollack; you can check Sasha Petraske's book.
Commish
Minneapolis, MN
4/14/2022
This drink was created by Sam Ross while at Milk and Honey in NYC. The credit should be given to him, not Pollack.
Anonymous
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2022
My favorite cocktail this year. Equal amounts of ingredients makes it easy to make - and therefore deadly!
Anonymous
Vermont
1/28/2022
This is my absolute favorite cocktail. I have tried several different Amaro's and Amaro Montenegro is my favorite pairing. Amaro Nonino is also great though! Perfectly refreshing and complex. If you're looking for a drink that tastes clearly of bourbon, this is not it. I love bourbon but I would say this drink focuses more on the aperitif/deigestifs.
Anonymous
Cleveland, OH
12/30/2021