Paper Plane
intro
A perfectly balanced modern craft cocktail with warm bourbon, bittersweet Italian liqueurs, and bright fresh lemon, boasting a smooth, sippable, well-rounded flavor.
Ingredients
Steps
Prep tools and ingredients
Gather required tools: a 2-piece metal cocktail shaker, double-sided jigger, fine-mesh strainer, and 4 coupe glasses. Place coupe glasses in the freezer to chill for 10 minutes. Measure 90ml (6 tbsp) each of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and strained lemon juice (seeds and pulp removed) into separate small prep cups to eliminate measurement errors during mixing.
Add ice to shaker
Scoop 2 cups of large, solid cubed ice into the base of the cocktail shaker. Do not use crushed ice for this step, as it melts too quickly and will over-dilute the cocktail; large cubed ice chills the drink rapidly while controlling dilution to the ideal 20% water content for balanced flavor.
Combine all core ingredients
Pour the pre-measured bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and strained lemon juice into the ice-filled shaker in that order. Double-check all ingredients are added, as this equal-parts recipe relies on exact ratios to deliver its signature balance of sweet, bitter, sour, and boozy notes; even a 10ml measurement error will throw off the final flavor.
Shake the mixture thoroughly
Seal the cocktail shaker tightly, holding the top and base firmly with both hands to prevent leaks. Shake hard and fast for 12 to 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker feels frosty and uncomfortably cold to the touch, reaching an internal temperature of 4°C (39°F). This vigorous shake chills the drink perfectly and creates a light, smooth texture without over-dilution.
Strain into chilled glasses
Remove the shaker top, place a fine-mesh strainer over the shaker opening, and pour the shaken cocktail evenly into the 4 pre-chilled coupe glasses, dividing the liquid so each glass holds approximately 90ml (3 fl oz) of the drink. Hold the strainer close to the glass surface to prevent splashing and ensure no small ice shards or lemon pulp make it into the final drink.
Garnish and serve immediately
Hold each 2-inch lemon zest strip 10cm above a cocktail, twist gently to express citrus oils onto the drink surface, then rub the twist along the glass rim before resting it on the edge as garnish. Serve immediately, within 2 minutes of straining, before the drink warms above 7°C (45°F).
Tips
2.Opt for a mid-shelf, 80-proof straight bourbon with caramel and vanilla notes for this recipe; high-rye, cask-strength, or very cheap bourbon will overpower the delicate herbal notes of the Amaro Nonino.
3.When cutting lemon twists for garnish, use a vegetable peeler to take only the thin colored zest, avoiding the thick white pith underneath; pith adds harsh, bitter flavor when citrus oils are expressed onto the drink.
OMG this is SO good! I made these for my husband’s birthday potluck with our neighbor crew last weekend and everyone was begging for the recipe. I was nervous to try a craft cocktail since I usually just make wine spritzers, but it was literally 4 ingredients and 5 minutes? Game changer. Will be adding this to our regular weekend rotation!
Took 5 minutes exactly like the recipe says, no fancy shaker needed? Wait I used a mason jar to shake and it turned out perfect. Made these before my buddy’s poker night and everyone said it tasted like something we’d pay $16 for at a downtown bar. Wild how easy it is.
Really solid cocktail! I added a tiny extra splash of lemon because I like my drinks a little more tart, but the base recipe is totally foolproof. Made these for girls’ night and we all had two each, only reason it’s not 5 stars is I wish it had a little garnish idea included, but that’s a tiny nitpick.
First time ever making a cocktail that wasn’t a seltzer with vodka and I’m obsessed. I was so intimidated by amaro because I thought it was only for super fancy bartenders, but the equal parts measurement made it impossible to mess up. My roommate thought I ordered takeout cocktails when I handed him one lmao.
Hosted a small dinner party last night and served these as the welcome drink, and literally every guest asked for the recipe before they left. It’s perfectly balanced — not too sweet, not too boozy, just bright and smooth. 10/10, will be making these for every get together from now on.
Made these for my wife and I for our anniversary at home since we didn’t wanna get a babysitter for the kids. We used to order these all the time at our first date bar, and this tasted exactly the same. Saved us $60 on bar tabs, will absolutely make again. Kids even thought the little orange peel garnish I added was fancy, ha.
Just mixed one up after a long work day and OMG. Why did I wait so long to try this? It’s so smooth I almost forgot there’s bourbon in it, which is dangerous tbh. Pairing it with my leftover carnitas tacos and it’s chef’s kiss.
Great recipe, super easy! I made a big batch for our tailgate last weekend and it held up really well in the cooler. Only note: if you’re making it ahead, don’t add the ice until you’re ready to serve, otherwise it gets a little watered down. Otherwise 10/10, everyone loved it.
This is my new go-to for rainy weekend afternoons. I love that it doesn’t require a bunch of weird syrups I’ll only use once. I’ve already made it three times since I found the recipe last week. My cat even likes to sit on the counter and watch me shake it up, so it’s officially a household hit.
Was looking for an easy cocktail to make for my book club meeting tonight and this is perfect! I did a test run a minute ago and it’s so delicious, not too heavy, goes down super easy. I know the girls are gonna lose their minds over these. Already picked up extra bourbon just in case we want seconds (we will).
I’m not even a big bourbon drinker and I loved this! It’s so bright from the lemon, the amaro adds that little depth that keeps it interesting, it’s not cloyingly sweet like so many fruity cocktails are. Made these for pool day yesterday and they were perfect even in the 90 degree heat.
Added this to my list of easy party drinks for client events and it’s already a fan favorite. It’s approachable for people who don’t drink craft cocktails often, but interesting enough for people who do. No weird ingredients, fast to make, easy to batch — what more could you ask for? Perfect for every occasion.
My teen kids even helped me measure out the ingredients for our family cookout (don’t worry, they got sparkling cider versions!) and they thought it was so fun to play bartender. The adult versions were a massive hit, my brother-in-law drank three and kept saying it was the best cocktail he’d ever had at a family gathering.
I’ve been messing up paper planes for literal years, always getting the ratios wrong, and this equal parts breakdown is foolproof. I used to overpour the bourbon and it was too strong, or too much amaro and it was bitter. This is exactly the classic version I’ve been trying to make forever. Thank you!
Made these after my kid’s soccer game yesterday for the parent group hangout, and everyone was raving. We usually just do beer and seltzers at these things, so stepping it up with these cocktails made me the most popular parent on the team, ha. Even the coach asked for the recipe! Will be making these every game day from now on.
Just tested this recipe out ahead of my Memorial Day cookout and it’s really good! I used a rye bourbon instead of regular because it’s what I had on hand, and it added a nice little spicy kick. Only knock is I wish there was a non-alcoholic version tip, but otherwise it’s a winner.