🥃 Paper Plane

Paper Plane is a modern classic cocktail of bourbon, the Italian amaro Nonino, Aperol and fresh lemon juice in equal parts. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) places it in the «New Era» category. The IBA recipe uses 30 ml of each ingredient; they are shaken with ice and strained into a chilled glass.

Author. According to Difford's Guide, the drink was created by Sam Ross for the Chicago bar The Violet Hour, where he never worked. He was asked to do it by Toby Maloney, with whom Ross had worked at Milk & Honey in New York. Sources differ on the year: most give 2007, some 2008.

Lineage. According to Difford's Guide, the Paper Plane is a variation on the Last Word: the same equal-parts structure, but with bourbon instead of gin and a bitter aperitif instead of green Chartreuse. Ross first made it with Campari, then replaced it with the less bitter Aperol and was pleased with the result. According to Punch, the name comes from a song by M.I.A. that Ross listened to while working.

Taste. Bourbon gives vanilla and caramel, Amaro Nonino gives bittersweet caramel notes, Aperol gives bitter orange, and lemon gives sourness. Equal parts make the drink balanced, and the recipe is easy to remember, which is why bars often repeat it and change it by adding other amari or aperitifs.

Why this matters to you. The simplicity of the recipe and its mild taste easily hide the strength: three of the four ingredients are strong spirits. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol.