Few cocktails earn "modern classic" status within a decade of their creation. The Paper Plane did it in half that time. Created by Sam Ross and Sasha Petraske in 2008 as a favor for their former Milk & Honey colleague Toby Maloney, who wanted a summer drink for his new Chicago bar The Violet Hour, this equal-parts spec introduced an entire generation of bartenders — and drinkers — to the bitter, herbal depth of Aperol and Amaro Nonino.
Four equal parts. Bourbon backbone, Aperol's bitter orange, Nonino's alpine herbs, fresh lemon. None hidden, none dominant.
The Equal-Parts Formula
What sets the Paper Plane apart is its radical democratic geometry: every bottle contributes exactly 3/4 oz. No ingredient dominates. No ingredient hides. The bourbon provides backbone and gentle sweetness; the Aperol contributes bitter orange and vivid color; the Nonino layers in alpine herb complexity; the lemon ties everything together with bright acidity.
The result sits at the intersection of sour, bitter, boozy, and herbal — simultaneously refreshing and complex. The color — a vivid sunset orange — is almost as memorable as the flavor.
Why It Works
Equal-parts drinks live or die by ingredient quality. The Paper Plane's genius is that all four components balance at roughly the same brix and alcohol level, meaning the spec is self-correcting. Use a high-rye bourbon like Rittenhouse or Old Overholt for spice that cuts through the Aperol's sweetness. The Nonino is non-negotiable — cheaper amaros will throw off the herbal equilibrium.
On the bourbon
Bold enough to hold its own but not so sweet that it competes with the Aperol. Wheated bourbons tend to get lost. High-rye expressions — Bulleit, Rittenhouse, Four Roses Single Barrel — bring a pepper note the drink rewards.
On the Nonino
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is a grappa-based amaro with a lighter body and pronounced floral and citrus notes. It's pricier than most amaros but genuinely irreplaceable here. Substituting a heavier amaro like Averna or Ramazzotti will produce a darker, more brooding drink — interesting, but not a Paper Plane.
Variations
Equal parts mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Amaro Nonino, and lemon — smoky and herbal.
- 3/4 ozMezcal
- 3/4 ozYellow Chartreuse
- 3/4 ozAmaro Nonino
Reposado tequila for the bourbon — an earthy, vegetal turn on the Paper Plane.
- 3/4 ozReposado tequila
- 3/4 ozAperol
- 3/4 ozAmaro Nonino
Campari for the Aperol — a bittersweet, savoury Paper Plane for the cold months.
- 3/4 ozBourbon
- 3/4 ozCampari
- 3/4 ozAmaro Nonino
Aged agricole rum for the bourbon — grassy depth that bridges the amaro.
- 3/4 ozAged agricole rum
- 3/4 ozAperol
- 3/4 ozAmaro Nonino
The Bottom Line
The Paper Plane is a gateway to amaros, a lesson in balance, and one of the most crowd-pleasing cocktails you can put in front of a skeptic. Mix one for someone who says they don't like bitter drinks. You'll convert them.