Sours · Whiskey · IBA official
Paper Plane
Bourbon, Aperol, amaro and lemon in equal parts – bittersweet and bright
Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and fresh lemon in equal parts, shaken and served up. Bittersweet orange and herbal notes sit on a warm bourbon base, with lemon keeping everything bright. A light-footed modern classic that works as well before dinner as after.
- Glass
- Coupe
- Ice
- Up (no ice)
- Technique
- Shaken · Double-strained
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time
- 3 min
- Strength
- ≈ 18% ABV
Ingredients
- 22.5 mlBourbon whiskey¾ oz
- 22.5 mlAperol¾ oz
- 22.5 mlAmaro Nonino¾ oz
- 22.5 mlFresh lemon juice¾ oz
- GarnishNone
≈ 113 ml served · 1.6 standard drinks
Substitutes: Rye whiskey can stand in for Bourbon whiskey. Fresh lime juice can stand in for Fresh lemon juice.
Method
- 1
Chill a coupe.
- 2
Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon juice to a shaker.
- 3
Fill with ice and shake hard for 10–12 seconds.
- 4
Double strain into the chilled coupe and serve without garnish.
History
Created by Sam Ross around 2007–2008 and first served on the menu at The Violet Hour in Chicago; it's named after the M.I.A. song “Paper Planes”. Ross's early version reportedly used Campari before he switched to Aperol and settled on today's equal-parts recipe.
- Origin
- Chicago, USA
- First recorded
- 2008
Bartender's notes
- Measure precisely – with four equal parts, a few millilitres off throws the balance.
- Amaro Nonino has no exact stand-in; another light, orange-accented amaro makes a different but enjoyable drink.
If you like this
Whiskey Sour
Bourbon and lemon under a velvet cap of foam
WhiskeyShaken
Old Fashioned
Bourbon, demerara and bitters – stirred slow, served over one big cube
WhiskeyStirred
Penicillin
Honey, ginger and lemon with Scotch and a smoky Islay float
WhiskeyShaken
Manhattan
Spicy rye and sweet vermouth, stirred silky and crowned with a cherry
WhiskeyStirred