• Bourbon
  25 ml (0.75 oz)

  Use a smooth, not overly smoky bourbon for balance.
• Aperol
  25 ml (0.75 oz)

  Adds gentle bitterness and a citrusy kick.
• Amaro Nonino
  25 ml (0.75 oz)

  Provides herbal complexity and depth.
• Fresh lemon juice
  25 ml (0.75 oz)

  Freshly squeezed for bright acidity.

• Cocktail shaker
• Hawthorne strainer
• Jigger
• Fine mesh strainer
• Chilled coupe glass

1. 1

   Chill your coupe glass in the freezer or with ice and water.

2. 2

   Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.

3. 3

   Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until the mixture is well chilled.

4. 4

   Double strain the cocktail through a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer into the chilled coupe glass.

5. 5

   Garnish and serve immediately.

• Perfectly balanced sweet, sour, and bitter flavors.
• Simple, equal-parts recipe that's easy to remember.
• Striking, bright orange color that catches the eye.
• Delivers a refreshing twist with a bourbon backbone.
• A true crowd-pleaser for both whiskey lovers and newcomers.

The Paper Plane was created in 2007 by acclaimed bartender Sam Ross, who’s also known for inventing the Penicillin cocktail. Ross crafted this drink for the opening menu of the Chicago bar, The Violet Hour. Inspired by the M.I.A. song ‘Paper Planes,’ the cocktail quickly soared in popularity thanks to its equal-parts simplicity and bold, layered flavor profile. It draws on the Italian classic, the Last Word, but with a modern twist using Aperol and bourbon. Today, the Paper Plane is a staple at cocktail bars around the world.