Paper Plane
A modern bourbon cocktail balancing bittersweet amaro, Aperol and fresh lemon.
Drink details
Glass
Coupe Glass
Ice
No Ice
Method
Shaken
Strength
Strong
Servings
1
Recipe
Ingredients
Bourbon
30 ml
Aperol
30 ml
Amaro Nonino
30 ml
Lemon Juice
Freshly squeezed
30 ml
Rating
Rate this drink
Method
Preparation
- 1
Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and freshly squeezed lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- 2
Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe.
About the Paper Plane
The Paper Plane is a modern classic created by bartender Sam Ross in 2008. Built from equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and fresh lemon juice, the cocktail achieves an unusually precise balance between whiskey richness, citrus acidity, sweetness and herbal bitterness. Despite containing four assertive ingredients, no single component dominates. The result is approachable yet complex, making the Paper Plane one of the most influential modern whiskey cocktails.
What does a Paper Plane taste like?
The Paper Plane tastes bright, bittersweet and citrus-forward, with bourbon providing warmth and structure beneath the fresh lemon. Aperol contributes gentle orange bitterness, while Amaro Nonino adds deeper herbal, caramel and spice notes. The equal-parts formula creates a balanced drink in which sweetness, acidity and bitterness remain clearly defined without becoming overpowering.
Tips for making a Paper Plane
Use freshly squeezed lemon juice because its acidity is essential to the balance of the cocktail. Measure all four ingredients accurately, as the equal-parts formula depends on precision. Shake thoroughly with ice to achieve sufficient chilling and dilution, then double strain into a chilled coupe glass for a clean texture.
