Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe

This post is going to show you exactly how to make the Paper Plane Cocktail!

As classic as this cocktail may taste, it is actually relatively new to the scene! Created in 2008 by bartender Sam Ross, the paper plane has been a favorite order at bars across the country ever since! As a millennial I love that Sam named the cocktail off of M.I.A’s song Paper Planes that was popular at the time!

The paper plane is a riff off of an old classic cocktail The Last Word. It is built off of the same equal parts ratio that somehow balances just right! Delicious flavor from Bourbon, Amaro Nonino, fresh lemon juice, and Aperol come together to make a boozy cocktail you won’t forget!

Let’s get right into it! This is the:

“Paper Plane” 

What You Will Need

Alcohol:

The first spirit you will want to have on deck is a delicious bourbon! I am choosing to use Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon! This bourbon is not only affordable, but incredibly smooth and delicious! With notes of plum, cherry, herbs, cocoa, and vanilla, this bourbon sits in the paper plane cocktail beautifully! I personally think the notes in this bourbon marry so well with the Aperol and Amaro Nonino we will be adding! This is a fantastic bourbon to have on the shelf at your home bar. You can enjoy it in particular cocktails or simply just pour it on the rocks! If you’re a bourbon lover I think you will be pleasantly surprised with this one.

I picked up my bottle at Total Wine and More but you can also find this at Bevmo, Grocery Stores, and Liquor Stores! This bottle is very easily accessible so go pick up yours today, you won’t be disappointed!

Next up we will be using the amazing Italian liqueur Amaro Nonino! Italian Amaro’s are all very unique and different. This happens to be one of my favorite Amaro’s out there! It really makes the paper plane cocktail significant in my opinion. This Amaro is beautifully bittersweet with notes of blood orange, caramel, saffron, honey, spice, and vanilla! This liqueur plays nicely with the other liqueur Aperol which plays a part in this cocktail. The orange flavors also really enhance the bourbon! I picked up my bottle at Total Wine and More but you can find this at Bevmo, and some select Liquor and Grocery Stores. This is such a cool Amaro to have at your home bar to experiment with or even drink straight. I highly recommend dabbling into Italian Amaro’s because I think that the Italians have really nailed down some unique and herbaceous flavors.

The next staple liqueur for this paper plane cocktail will be Aperol! You may know Aperol from its famous cocktail the Aperol Spritz. The recipe for Aperol has actually been kept a secret since it was first created in the early 1900’s by the Barbieri family. Often referred to as the cousin of Campari, Aperol is less bitter and carries a more sweet and distinct orange flavor! I personally love this light, sweet, and herbaceous liqueur. As I previously mentioned, it pairs so nicely with the bourbon and Amaro Nonino! You can pick up a bottle of Aperol at Total Wine and More, Liquor Stores, Grocery Stores, or Bevmo! It is a very accessible bottle and a must have at your home bar!

Fresh Citrus:

The paper plane cocktail calls for Fresh Lemon Juice!!! And yes the fresh part is a must! Over here at Sweet Nectar we are only about using the freshest ingredients possible! I absolutely love the way fresh juices enhance a cocktail. Once you taste the difference you’ll never be able to go back! The best part is that it’s incredibly easy to do. In the photo above I am using my stainless steel hand-pressed citrus juicer. This thing has been one of my favorite purchases for my home bar! I found all other citrus juicers hard to use, and extremely messy. I love the pour spout that this juicer has and the ease with the squeeze. You can check one out identical to mine RIGHT HERE and start making the best cocktails of your life!

Bar Supplies:

The paper plane cocktail will be shaken! You want to have a shaker that suits you. I personally use Boston Shakers! I love being able to build a cocktail in two separate tins. You also get a really nice range of motion when you shake with these bad boys. This is the shaker I have used in all of my bar experience. When you shake a cocktail in a shaker like this you are diluting the cocktail and building it in volume simultaneously. If you want to check out a shaker just like mine you can do so RIGHT HERE!

Next you will want to make sure you have a Jigger! Jiggers are how you measure the liquid ingredients that will be going into a cocktail! You always want your final product to be consistent, balanced, and beautiful. Using a jigger can help you attain that easily! My jigger in the photo above ranges in measurements of 1/4 oz to 2 oz! If you want to check out one identical to mine you can do so RIGHT HERE!

I must admit, when I was just starting to learn how to bartend, I used a much more simplified jigger. It had only one side, very clear measurements, and a pour spout! It really helped me build my skills and confidence behind the bar! I will link the exact jigger I used to use in the early days for you RIGHT HERE. Cheers to learning new skills!

The paper plane cocktail is served “Up”. This means it is strained into a coupe glass over no ice! As you can see in the photo I am “Double Straining” this cocktail. This means I am running it through both a Hawthorne Strainer and a Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer simultaneously. This assures there won’t be any extra pulp or fine ice shards in the final cocktail. You want to avoid extra ice shards in a drink like this because you want to take away any extra opportunities for the cocktail to further dilute. We want those flavors to remain big and bold!

You can check out a fine mesh cocktail strainer like mine HERE and a hawthorne strainer like mine HERE!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginners Kit : HERE

Advanced Kit : HERE

Let’s Build!