cocktaildna

New York City, USA · 2007

Paper Plane

A modern equal-parts sour that hits you with bright citrus and bitter orange, then settles into a warm, herbal whiskey backbone.

bitter-sweetcitruswhiskeyamaroaperolequal-partssourorangeherbal

%

ABV

Difficulty

Paper Plane

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is sharp and tart with fresh lemon, backed by the candied orange of Aperol. As it sits on your tongue, the bourbon warms things up while the Amaro Nonino brings a slightly bitter, earthy herbal note. It finishes dry and zesty, leaving you ready for another sip.

Who will like it

For people who like bitter-sweet, citrus-forward drinks like a Whiskey Sour but want something with more herbal depth.

When to drink

This is a perfect early evening drink to kick off the night, especially in warmer weather.

Ordering tip

If a bar doesn't have Amaro Nonino, ask what they substitute—Averna or Montenegro change the drink significantly, so it's worth knowing.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $3–$6Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This drink is a bright, tart slap of citrus that quickly gets pulled back by sweet orange and warm whiskey. The bitterness from the amaro and Aperol lingers at the edges, making it much more interesting than a standard sour. It drinks light and crisp, disappearing from the glass faster than you'd expect.

Finish: The finish is dry and slightly bitter, with a lingering orange peel warmth from the amaro.

Primary tastes

bittersweetsour

Secondary

herbalfruity

Aroma

orange peellemon zestcaramel
  • Bitternessnoticeably bitter

    The Aperol and Amaro Nonino bring a distinct bitter edge that balances the sweetness.

  • Sweetnessmoderately sweet

    The liqueurs and bourbon provide enough sugar to stand up to the lemon and bitterness.

  • Sournesstart and bright

    Fresh lemon juice makes up a quarter of the drink, giving it a sharp, mouth-watering acidity.

  • Strengthmoderately strong

    The bourbon and amaro give it a solid kick, but the juice and Aperol keep it approachable.

  • Refreshingvery refreshing

    Served cold with a lot of citrus, this is a highly thirst-quenching drink.

  • Complexitylayered and evolving

    The equal-parts structure means the flavor shifts from sour to sweet to bitter as you sip.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on Bourbon Whiskey. A standard 80-100 proof works best; anything too high will overpower the delicate amaro.

Before you start

Put your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes to get it frosty. Squeeze your lemon juice right before making the drink so it tastes bright, not flat.

Ingredients

  • Bourbon WhiskeyBase Spirit22ml
  • AperolLiqueur22ml
  • Amaro NoninoLiqueurAmaro Nonino Quintessentia is the specific bottle needed for the true Paper Plane.22ml
  • Lemon JuiceJuiceFreshly squeezed is mandatory.22ml

Tools

  • Cocktail Shaker · Shaking

    To chill and dilute the drink by shaking with ice.

    At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid.

  • Jigger · Measuring

    To measure the equal parts of each ingredient accurately.

    At home: A standard shot glass or measuring spoons.

  • Hawthorne Strainer · Straining

    To separate the ice from the liquid when pouring into the glass.

    At home: A slotted spoon or fine mesh sieve.

  • Coupe Glass · Serving

    To serve the drink chilled without ice.

    At home: Any small stemmed glass or short wine glass.

  • Citrus Juicer · Other

    To extract fresh lemon juice.

    At home: Squeezing by hand over a strainer.

Ingredients and tools to make Paper Plane
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Measure out 22ml of bourbon, 22ml of Aperol, 22ml of Amaro Nonino, and 22ml of fresh lemon juice. Pour all four into your shaker—since it's equal parts, the order doesn't matter.

    Step 1 — how to make Paper Plane

    !Using bottled lemon juice will make the drink taste flat and overly sweet.

  2. 2

    Fill the shaker about two-thirds full with ice cubes. Make sure the ice comes up above the liquid line so everything chills evenly.

    Step 2 — how to make Paper Plane

    !Using too little ice will water down the drink instead of chilling it quickly.

  3. 3

    Put the top on the shaker and shake hard for about 10 to 12 seconds. You'll know you're done when the outside of the shaker feels freezing cold and frosty with condensation.

    ~12s

    Step 3 — how to make Paper Plane

    !Shaking too gently won't wake up the citrus or chill the drink fast enough.

  4. 4

    Take the top off the shaker and fit your Hawthorne strainer over the tin. Pour the drink through the strainer into your chilled coupe glass, letting it fill right up to the rim.

    Step 4 — how to make Paper Plane

    !Pouring too slowly lets the ice melt and dilute the drink before it hits the glass.

Serve

Serve it right away while it's icy cold. It doesn't take ice in the glass, so drink it before it warms up.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Amaro Nonino

  • Amaro NoninoAverna
    Match
    Common availability

    Amaro Nonino → Averna: Makes the drink darker, heavier, and more bitter with less orange notes.

  • Amaro NoninoMontenegro
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Amaro Nonino → Montenegro: Lighter and more floral, but lacks the distinct orange and bitter depth of Nonino.

Swap options for Bourbon Whiskey

  • Bourbon WhiskeyRye Whiskey
    Match
    Common availability

    Bourbon Whiskey → Rye Whiskey: Adds a spicier, drier bite that pushes the drink into sharper territory.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Last Word

Similar cocktail

Last Word

The Last Word uses gin and green Chartreuse, making it much more herbal and vegetal.

Match

The Paper Plane is warmer and more orange-forward, while the Last Word is greener, more botanical, and has a cherry note from the maraschino.

In common: equal parts, shaken, herbal liqueur, sour

Ingredients

Both share

Lemon Juice

Only in Paper Plane

Bourbon Whiskey, Aperol, Amaro Nonino

Only in Last Word

Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur

Both use equal parts and lemon juice, but the Paper Plane relies on whiskey and amaro, while the Last Word uses gin and Chartreuse.

Flavor

Shared flavors

bright citrus acidity, bitter-sweet balance, herbal undertones

How Last Word differs

more orange notes, warmer base, less vegetal

View recipe & details →

Whiskey Sour

Similar cocktail

Whiskey Sour

The Paper Plane adds Aperol and amaro, making it more bitter and complex than a standard Whiskey Sour.

Match

A Whiskey Sour is richer and sweeter, while the Paper Plane is crisper, drier, and has a distinct bitter orange edge.

In common: shaken, sour family, bourbon base

Ingredients

Both share

Bourbon Whiskey, Lemon Juice

Only in Paper Plane

Aperol, Amaro Nonino

Only in Whiskey Sour

Simple Syrup, Egg White

The Paper Plane replaces the simple syrup of a Whiskey Sour with Aperol and Amaro Nonino for a drier, more bitter profile.

Flavor

Shared flavors

bourbon warmth, tart lemon backbone

How Whiskey Sour differs

drier finish, bitter orange notes, no creamy texture

View recipe & details →

Gold Rush

Similar cocktail

Gold Rush

The Gold Rush uses honey syrup instead of the bitter liqueurs, making it much sweeter and simpler.

Match

The Gold Rush is a sweet, comforting drink, whereas the Paper Plane is dry, bitter, and more complex.

In common: shaken, bourbon base, equal parts

Ingredients

Both share

Bourbon Whiskey, Lemon Juice

Only in Paper Plane

Aperol, Amaro Nonino

Only in Gold Rush

Honey Syrup

The Gold Rush swaps out the bitter orange and herbal components for rich honey syrup.

Flavor

Shared flavors

bourbon backbone, citrus tartness

How Gold Rush differs

sweeter profile, floral honey notes, no bitterness

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

Sam Ross created the Paper Plane in 2007 at Milk & Honey in New York. He originally made it with Campari, but found it too bitter, so he switched to Aperol to soften the edges and let the Amaro Nonino shine.

Creator
Sam Ross at Milk & Honey
Era
2000s
IBA
New Era Drinks
Data version
IBA New Era Drinks
Confidence

The original spec by Sam Ross used 3/4 oz of each ingredient, which is roughly 22ml.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Use a standard 80-proof bourbon so it doesn't overpower the amaro.
  • Squeeze your lemon juice fresh right before making the drink.
  • If you can't find Amaro Nonino, Montenegro is the closest easy substitute.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Don't use bottled lemon juice, it ruins the fresh taste.
  • Don't skip the Amaro Nonino, it's the key to the drink's identity.