Classic Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe

All I wanna do is-. And a-. And take your money. Believe it or not, this cocktail was inspired by the hit M.I.A. song in 2008! I know, it seems like it has been around for much much longer, but the Paper Plane has quickly become a mixology standard.

If you’re looking for a recipe for this modern, hip drink, then look no further. We’ve got you covered with the perfect way to make this one up, with some history thrown in for good measure.

So, let’s get stuck right into it.

What Is the Paper Plane Cocktail?

Another one to add to the Sam Ross Greatest Hits album, the Paper Plane was actually invented in Chicago for the opening of The Violet Hour. Of course, upon his return to New York, Ross put the Paper Plane on the Milk and Honey menu and its popularity only grew from there.

A combination of American and Italian ingredients, the Paper Plane contains equal parts Bourbon, Aperol, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and Amaro Nonino Quintessentia.

The keen-eyed amongst you will notice it’s a riff on the pre-prohibition classic, the Last Word cocktail, but if each ingredient was swapped out for something similar, but not quite the same. 

So, what does a Paper Plane cocktail actually taste like?

It has that classic bitter-sweet juxtaposition that every amaro cocktail from the Aperol Spritz to the Negroni contains. The kick comes from the bourbon which, depending on your choice, can add those sweet, vanilla notes but also a bit of that cask oak heaviness. And the lemon juice caps it all off with a little squirt of zest.

Imagine a whiskey sour, but fruitier and more exciting. That’s the package you’ll get with a Paper Plane drink. 

Before we get into the recipe, a word on Amaro Nonino Quintessentia.

Amaro is an Italian bitter liqueur with a herbal taste. Nonino Quintessentia is easy enough to purchase online in the US for under $50 a bottle. Don’t be put off though, because this Amaro is so much more versatile than just making an amazing Paper Plane drink.

It can be drunk on its own, or even mixed with soda water, as an after-dinner digestif, as is customary in Italy. Or you can use it in customary bitters cocktails, such as a Negroni or Brooklyn (a riff on the classic Manhattan using maraschino liqueur).

If you really can’t get hold of Amaro Nonino Quintissentia, don’t worry. Campari or Angostura bitters will do the job.

Though they won’t quite have the same profile as Ross intended when he carefully crafted the Paper Plane cocktail, they will still make a quality drink with that classic Italian American feel, it just won’t taste exactly like a proper Paper Plane. 

Now that’s all cleared up, let’s cut the history lesson and get right into how to craft this hit single-inspired modern classic.

The Perfect Paper Plane Recipe: How to Make the Paper Plane Drink 

This one isn’t fancy or complicated to make so let’s jump to it:

Step One: Chill and Prep.

Take your coupe glass and fill it with ice. Then, while your glass chills, add ¾ ounce of Bourbon, Aperol, Lemon Juice, and Amaro Nonino Quintissentia to your Boston Shaker. 

Step Two: Shake and Strain 

Fill your shaker with ice, give it a good shake until it’s cold to the touch, then discard the ice from your now chilled coupe glass and double strain to get all those flecks of ice out. If you want, you can even fold up a little paper plane as a garnish, like Ross did when he originally made the drink. 

And that’s it, a short and sweet recipe for the Paper Plane cocktail. A simple shake and strain drink with equal parts, and with a unique, almost contradictory taste. What’s not to love?

Variations of the Famous Paper Plane Cocktail 

A lot of the famous Milk and Honey cocktails came to be as a riff on an old classic. With this one being no different, it’s hardly a surprise that the Paper Plane has already been spiced up and had ingredients switched out.

Let’s take a look at the best ways to keep this drink new and exciting:

The first variation we’re going to recommend removes a little bit of the sweetness from the drink by replacing the Aperol with Campari bitters.

You’ll still have a bit of a sugary tang from the Amaro Nonino Quintissentia, but the Campari will complement the lemon juice to make a cocktail a little more favorable to those with a less sweet palate.

Don’t worry, it’s not going to be some sort of bitter overload, far from it, but it’ll give the drink just that little bit more of a kick. 

Speaking of giving the Paper Plane cocktail a kick, how about replacing the bourbon with rum?

Spiced rum, just something standard like Captain Morgan’s, is going to radically alter the flavor of this drink, as you’d expect from switching up the base alcohol.

You’ll still have the balance from the Aperol and Amaro to keep this drink from being overloaded, but it’ll certainly pack more of a punch. If spiced rum isn’t to your taste, experiment with dark and even white rum, and you’ll be sure to find something to your liking. 

The final, and the simplest way, we’d recommend switching up your Paper Plane is to just experiment with your whiskey.

Whether it’s bourbon, rye, or maybe even scotch. Each whiskey has its own unique taste and you can tailor your drink to be sweet, sour, smokey, or even pack a heavy punch just by switching up the base.

Experiment, try new things, and see what takes your fancy, it is your drink after all!