The Paper Plane: A First-Class Cocktail for June

3 Jun

Last weekend, I was out for dinner in Montreal during the F1 weekend and sitting at the bar. Several hours pass with this bartender who I’ve been chatting with all night and late into the evening she’s crafting a vibrant, bittersweet, dark orange colored drink for another table, which I was curious about - I’d never seen it before, but as it turned out it’s a very popular cocktail that has been around for years!

Despite feeling like a timeless classic, this drink actually has a great piece of modern cocktail history. It was invented in 2008 by a famous bartender named Sam Ross for the opening of the Violet Hour bar in Chicago. Ross (who also created the famous Penicillin cocktail) named the drink after the hit M.I.A. song "Paper Planes," which he was listening to on repeat at the time.

What makes it a modern masterpiece is its simplicity: it relies on an exact equal-parts ratio, making it incredibly easy to memorize and execute perfectly every time.

Paper Plane

**Shopping List**
**¾ oz** Bourbon
**¾ oz** Aperol
**¾ oz** Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
**¾ oz** Fresh Lemon Juice (About half a lemon - use a lemon squeezer)
**Preparation**
**The Prep:** Add your Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice into a cocktail shaker.
**The Chill:** Fill the shaker to the top with fresh ice and shake vigorously for about 10–15 seconds until the shaker is frost-bitten and freezing cold.
**The Pour:** Double strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass. (Martini glass is fine and you don’t need to double strain).

Pro Tip

While some equal-parts drinks are forgiving, this one hinges on Amaro Nonino. Do not mistake it for standard Amaro Montenegro or Averna, which are much heavier and darker. Nonino is grape-based with a beautiful alpine, bittersweet orange profile that balances perfectly with the Aperol and Bourbon. Shaking is mandatory for this one to get the perfect dilution and that crisp, refreshing bite!

Disclaimer: The names of the drinks featured in this post are used solely for fun and thematic purposes for a holiday celebration. These recipes are intended only for adults of legal drinking age in your region. Always know your limits, and please, never drink and drive.

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