The paper plane cocktail stops conversations mid-sentence with its vibrant orange hue and perfect balance. Created in 2007 by bartender Sam Ross while M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" played in the background, this drink rapidly flew from New York's Milk & Honey bar into cocktail menus worldwide. When I explained its origin story to Max, he asked earnestly, "Does it actually fly?" While the cocktail itself stays grounded, its popularity has certainly soared; securing a place among classics in less than 15 years. Its brilliance lies in sublime simplicity: four ingredients in equal parts creating a bourbon and amaro masterpiece that professional bartenders respect and home mixologists can easily master.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Flavor Balance:
- Perfect harmony of sweet, sour, and bitter notes
- Complex taste that evolves as you sip
- Bright citrus cuts through rich amaro depth
- Approachable yet sophisticated profile
Practical Magic:
- Equal parts recipe that's easy to remember
- No special tools or techniques required
- Ready in under 5 minutes
- Impressive presentation with minimal effort
What makes the Paper Plane cocktail truly special is its accessibility despite its complex flavor. As Max wisely observed while watching me make a batch for friends: "It looks simple but everyone says it's fancy!" This sums up the cocktail perfectly; sophisticated enough for serious cocktail enthusiasts but straightforward enough for anyone to make at home.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Paper Plane cocktail Ingredients
- How To Make a Paper Plane Cocktail
- Substitutions
- Paper Plane cocktail Variations
- Equipment for Paper Plane cocktail
- Important Note:
- My Friend's Cocktail Magic
- Modern Classic in a Glass!
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related
- Pairing
- Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe
Paper Plane cocktail Ingredients
The Core Four (Equal Parts):
- Bourbon whiskey (a good mid-range option works best)
- Aperol (the bright orange Italian aperitif)
- Amaro Nonino (an amber-colored Italian digestif)
- Fresh lemon juice (must be freshly squeezed)
Optional Garnish:
- Lemon twist
- Maraschino cherry
- Mini paper airplane (Max's preferred decorative touch)
Important Considerations:
- Ice (large cubes for shaking, a single large cube for serving)
- Chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass
Remember: The quality of your amaro significantly impacts this cocktail. While the original recipe calls specifically for Amaro Nonino, it can be challenging to find and relatively expensive.
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make a Paper Plane Cocktail
Creating the perfect Paper Plane is absolutely simple. Here's my foolproof method refined through countless Friday night experiments:
Prepare Your Workspace
- Chill your coupe or Nick & Nora glass in the freezer
- Gather all ingredients for efficient preparation
- Cut a fresh lemon for squeezing
- Have a cocktail shaker and strainer ready
Measure with Precision
- Pour ¾ oz bourbon into a cocktail shaker
- Add ¾ oz Aperol (no need to measure twice if using a jigger)
- Add ¾ oz Amaro Nonino
- Finish with ¾ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Shake to Perfection
- Add plenty of ice to your shaker
- Secure lid and shake vigorously for 15 seconds
- This proper dilution and chilling is crucial for balance
Serve with Style
- Remove chilled glass from freezer
- Double-strain cocktail into glass to remove ice chips
- Add garnish if desired (lemon twist is traditional)
- Serve immediately
Substitutions
Bourbon Alternatives:
- Bourbon → Rye whiskey for spicier profile
- Standard proof → High-proof bourbon for stronger drink
- American whiskey → Japanese whisky for subtle variation
- Bourbon → Dark rum for interesting twist
Amaro Options:
- Amaro Nonino → Amaro Montenegro (lighter, more floral)
- Nonino → Amaro Meletti (more caramel notes)
- Traditional amaro → Amaro CioCiaro
- Standard amount → Reduced to ½ oz for less bitterness
Paper Plane cocktail Variations
The Upgraded Paper Plane:
- Use Japanese whisky instead of bourbon
- Add 2 dashes of orange bitters
- Garnish with expressed orange peel
- Serve with large clear ice cube
The Paper Airplane (lighter version):
- Reduce each ingredient to ½ oz
- Top with 1 oz prosecco
- Serve in a flute glass
- Garnish with lemon twist and mint leaf
The Spicy Paper Plane:
- Use rye whiskey with 2 thin slices of jalapeño
- Shake as normal, then double strain
- Rim half the glass with Tajín
- Garnish with jalapeño slice
The Spicy Paper Plane variation came about during an impromptu cookout when a friend suggested adding jalapeño to complement our grilled dishes. The unexpected heat worked beautifully against the sweet and bitter elements; proving that sometimes the best variations happen spontaneously! It's now my go-to version when serving these alongside Mexican food.
Equipment for Paper Plane cocktail
- Jigger or measuring tool
- Cocktail shaker
- Hawthorne strainer
- Fine mesh strainer (for double straining)
- Citrus juicer
Important Note:
- Paper Plane is best enjoyed freshly made when possible
- Never pre-batch with lemon juice for more than 4 hours
- Citrus flavor changes and becomes bitter over time
- Always shake with fresh ice regardless of pre-batching
My Friend's Cocktail Magic
My friend Mike; who crafts drinks at an upscale bar downtown, shared a simple technique that transforms a Paper Plane cocktail from great to extraordinary.
"Try a reverse dry shake," he suggested at our last dinner party. "Shake with ice first, strain, then shake again without ice for about 10 seconds."
This quick extra step creates a silky texture with the slightest froth on top; just enough for a luxurious mouthfeel without changing the drink's character. Max has embraced this technique with enthusiasm, solemnly counting the seconds of the second shake. When I recently skipped this step for a larger gathering, he whispered with genuine concern, "Mom, you forgot the magic shake!" His quality standards remain impressively high, even though he only tastes the mocktail versions I make him.
Modern Classic in a Glass!
Now you have all the secrets to creating the perfect Paper Plane cocktail starting from the precise equal-parts ratio to Mike's reverse dry shake technique. This modern classic proves that sometimes the simplest recipes create the most impressive results.
Looking for more crowd-pleasing cocktails? Try my zingy Lemon Drop Martini for a perfect balance of sweet and sour, or the whimsical Rock Candy Cocktail that brings playful nostalgia to adult gatherings. For a dessert-inspired sipper, my Key Lime Pie Martini transforms the famous Florida treat into liquid form; complete with graham cracker rim!
Share your Paper Plane cocktail creations! Max loves seeing your mixology adventures!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Paper Plane cocktail?
A Paper Plane is a modern classic cocktail created in 2007 by bartender Sam Ross. It features equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice. Having tested numerous variations, I can confirm this balanced formula produces a perfectly bittersweet, tangy drink with complex layers of flavor that's surprisingly easy to make at home.
What is the difference between Paper Plane and Old Fashioned?
Paper Plane is a shaken, citrus forward cocktail with equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice. Old Fashioned is a stirred, spirit-forward cocktail with bourbon, sugar, and bitters. After making both regularly, I find Paper Planes are brighter and more complex while Old Fashioneds showcase the whiskey's character more prominently.
Is the Paper Plane made with Aperol or Campari?
The authentic Paper Plane cocktail is specifically made with Aperol, not Campari. I've tested both versions extensively, and while Campari creates an interesting variation, it produces a significantly more bitter cocktail that lacks the balanced, approachable profile that made the original Paper Plane famous. Aperol provides the perfect gentle bitterness and orange notes.
What is the best amaro for paper plane cocktail?
Amaro Nonino is the traditional and best choice for an authentic Paper Plane. Through side by side testing, I've found its unique honey orange notes and balanced bitterness are essential to the cocktail's character. If unavailable, Amaro Montenegro works as a substitute, though it creates a lighter, more floral variation of the classic.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this paper plane cocktail:
Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Chill your serving glass in the freezer.
- Add bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice to shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.
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