Paper Plane
Paper Plane garnished with a lemon peel.
The Paper Plane: A Modern Classic That Actually Earned It
The Paper Plane became a modern classic faster than most cocktails manage. Created by bartender Sam Ross in 2008 for Chicago's The Violet Hour, this drink went from new recipe to bar staple in under a decade.
Ross was asked by Toby Maloney to create a summer cocktail for The Violet Hour's opening menu. He took inspiration from the Last Word - a prohibition-era equal-parts cocktail - and swapped in bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice. He named it after the M.I.A. song "Paper Planes" that was everywhere that summer.
The recipe is beautifully simple: equal parts of each ingredient. Most bars use three-quarters of an ounce each, making a perfectly balanced drink that's easy to remember and scale.
Bourbon brings warmth and sweetness. Aperol adds bright, bittersweet orange flavor. Amaro Nonino is the secret - this Italian liqueur has notes of orange peel and herbs that tie everything together. Fresh lemon juice balances the booze with tartness.
Making it is straightforward. Combine everything in a shaker with ice, shake for fifteen seconds, then strain into a coupe glass. No garnish needed, though some bars add a tiny paper airplane on the rim.
What makes this drink special is the balance. It's boozy without being overwhelming, bitter without being harsh, sweet without being cloying. Everything works together in a way that feels effortless.
The drink spread quickly because it hit multiple cities at once - Chicago, New York, and Toronto all caught on within a few years. That equal-parts recipe meant bartenders couldn't mess up the ratios, and it became easy to replicate everywhere.
If you can find Amaro Nonino, this cocktail is worth making at home. The equal-parts formula takes the guesswork out, and it tastes way more complicated than the effort required.
RECIPE:
1 oz bourbon
1 oz Aperol
1 oz Amaro Nonino (or similar)
1 oz fresh lemon juice
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake and strain into a chilled coupe.
No garnish or a small lemon twist.