This Paper Plane cocktail recipe is made with Aperol, bourbon whiskey, amaro nonino and lemon juice, using equal parts of all ingredients and it's served in a coupe or martini glass.
The Paper Plane is a drink that gives you the warmth of bourbon, the sweetness of amaro, and the bright, bittersweet flavors of Aperol and citrus. As a former bartender, I love that it's a little bit sophisticated, but still accessible.
Created by Sam Ross, it has become a what some would call a modern classic cocktail recipe, because the history of the Paper Plane doesn't go back that far, with its origin in 2008. It's a loose variation on the Last Word cocktail.
This is one of the easiest cocktail recipes you can make at home, because it's an equal parts drink and you don't need any fancy garnish or have to know any special techniques to make one.
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Paper plane cocktail ingredients
- Bourbon: The best bourbon for a Paper Plane would be one with a smooth finish that balances the Aperol, I like Four Roses bourbon for mixing cocktails like this one.
- Aperol: This low-alcohol Italian aperitivo liqueur is less bitter than Campari, it adds a bit of fruity sweetness that complements the lemon.
- Amaro Nonino quintessentia: Amaro nonino is a grappa-based herbal liqueur that has notes of anise and maple. It's the bridge between the bourbon and the aperol in the cocktail.
- Fresh lemon juice: Freshly-squeezed lemon juice brightens up all the flavors and dilutes the alcohol in the drink.
- Garnish: The Paper Plane recipe doesn't include a garnish, unless you want to make an actual tiny paper plane to somehow hang on the side of it as the original bartender who created it did! Although some people add a lemon twist, do so if you feel inclined.
How to make a paper plane cocktail
Step 1: Juice the lemon
Slice the lemon in half and juice it, making sure you remove the seeds. I like to use a little bar juicer to make things easier. See expert tips below about how to get the most juice from a lemon.
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Step 2: Mix and pour
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake gently just until chilled. Strain your Paper Plane cocktail into a chilled coupe glass and drink immediately.
Expert tips
- Don't shake it too much: A drink made with juice should be shaken, but don't shake a Paper Plane too much. It shouldn't be frothy or foamy, just enough to chill it.
- Keep lemons at room temperature: Here's my top tip as a former bartender. It's very hard to get much juice out of a cold lemon. Keep it at room temp, and roll it gently on the counter with your palm before squeezing to get the most juice!
- Makes a great batch cocktail: The Paper Plane is a great drink to make in a big batch for cocktail parties. Because everything is in equal parts, measuring all of the ingredients is so simple—no math needed! Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
More equal parts cocktails
The Paper Plane is one of many drinks that have equal parts of all ingredients. They are among my favorite cocktail recipes because they're so easy to make!
- The Milano Torino cocktail only has two ingredients: Campari and sweet vermouth. Easy peasy!
- A Negroni is probably the all-time classic equal parts cocktail, made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
The Paper Plane cocktail is a well balanced recipe and a smooth drink!
- Easy to make because all ingredients are equal parts.
- Bourbon and Aperol balance the cocktail flavors from bitter to sweet.
- The Paper Plane makes a great batch cocktail recipe for parties!
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Recipe
Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 ounce bourbon
- 1 ounce aperol
- 1 ounce Amaro Nonino
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Slice the lemon in half and juice it, making sure you remove the seeds. I like to use a little bar juicer to make things easier. See expert tips below about how to get the most juice from a lemon.
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake gently just until chilled. Strain your Paper Plane cocktail into a coupe glass and serve immediately.
Notes
- Don't shake it too much: A drink made with juice should be shaken, but don't shake a Paper Plane too much. It shouldn't be frothy or foamy, just enough to chill it.
- Keep lemons at room temperature: Here's my top tip as a former bartender. It's very hard to get much juice out of a cold lemon. Keep it at room temp, and roll it gently on the counter with your palm before squeezing to get the most juice!
- Makes a great batch cocktail: The Paper Plane is a great drink to make in a big batch for cocktail parties. Because everything is in equal parts, measuring all of the ingredients is so simple—no math needed! Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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