Paper Plane
Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon in equal parts. Bittersweet, sharp and balanced.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2.2 UK units
How to make a Paper Plane
- Chill a coupe. Fill the coupe with ice and water, or put it in the freezer, while you make the drink.
- Combine in a shaker. Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon juice to a shaker and fill it with ice.
- Shake hard. Shake for 12 to 15 seconds, until the tin is too cold to hold comfortably.
- Double strain. Tip out the ice from the glass and strain through a fine strainer. The drink should be a clear amber-orange with a little foam at the edge.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A martini glass or any small stemmed glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- None, or a thin lemon twistOr: A small paper plane on the rim, if you want to be literal.
What you need to make a Paper Plane
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Cocktail shakerA two-piece Boston tin is the easiest to use and clean.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Fine strainerA small tea strainer catches ice shards.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bottles we'd use
- Amaro Nonino QuintessentiaThe drink is built around it. Amaro Montenegro is the nearest alternative, but lighter.Find it on Amazon
- AperolEasy to find in UK supermarkets.Find it on Amazon
- A bourbonSomething at 45% or above, such as Wild Turkey 101, holds up to the other three.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Paper Plane story
Bartender Sam Ross is credited with creating it in 2007. It takes its name from the M.I.A. song 'Paper Planes'. It is built as a modern variation on the Last Word, using equal parts of four ingredients.
Equal parts means every ingredient is easy to see. The lemon keeps it from tasting syrupy, Aperol gives bright bitter orange, and Amaro Nonino gives caramel and orange peel. If it is too bitter, use a touch less Aperol. If it is too sharp, a tiny splash more amaro.
Paper Plane: your questions answered
What is in a Paper Plane?
A Paper Plane is made with 25 ml bourbon, 25 ml Aperol, 25 ml Amaro Nonino and 25 ml fresh lemon juice. Garnish: none, or a thin lemon twist.
Is a Paper Plane shaken or stirred?
A Paper Plane is shaken, not stirred. Shaking hard with ice chills it quickly and helps mix the juice in properly, which stirring cannot do. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.
How strong is a Paper Plane?
Made to this recipe, a Paper Plane contains about 2.2 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Paper Plane in?
Serve a Paper Plane in a coupe. No coupe? A martini glass or any small stemmed glass.
