The Paper Plane: A Complete History & Classic Recipe
- pbrittain97
- Oct 30
- 4 min read
Sleek, bittersweet, and effortlessly modern, the Paper Plane is the rare 21st-century cocktail that became a classic almost overnight. Equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice, it’s a marvel of balance — tangy yet smooth, bright yet grounded, and as perfectly folded as its name suggests.
Conceived in the late 2000s but already revered alongside pre-Prohibition icons, the Paper Plane proves that modern mixology can produce legends too — crafted with precision, humility, and harmony.
I. Origins
The Paper Plane was created in 2007 by Sam Ross, the acclaimed Australian bartender behind New York’s Attaboy and Milk & Honey, both temples of the modern cocktail renaissance.
Ross conceived the drink for the Violet Hour in Chicago, where he was consulting on the opening menu. Inspired by the newly released M.I.A. track “Paper Planes”, he named the cocktail as a playful nod to the song’s ubiquitous presence at the time.
The drink itself, however, is pure craftsmanship. Ross designed it as a whiskey-based riff on the Last Word, a Prohibition-era equal-parts cocktail of gin, Chartreuse, maraschino, and lime. Instead of gin and herbal liqueurs, he built his version around bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice — a bittersweet symphony that hits all the right notes.
In Ross’s own words:
“It’s a drink that just works — equal parts, easy to remember, perfectly balanced.”
And indeed, it does.
II. Historical Evolution
The 2000s – The Birth of a Modern Classic
The Paper Plane debuted in 2007 and quickly spread through the craft cocktail world. Its equal-parts formula made it easy to reproduce, while its modern ingredients gave it sophistication and intrigue.
By the early 2010s, it had become a calling card for contemporary cocktail culture — accessible yet elegant, rooted in history but unmistakably current.
The 2010s – The Global Takeoff
As Amaro Nonino became more widely available, bartenders from New York to Tokyo embraced the drink. Its photogenic amber hue and flawless balance made it a fixture of menus and social media alike.
Today – A New Classic
The Paper Plane is now part of the modern “canon” — alongside the Penicillin (also by Sam Ross) and the Naked and Famous (by Joaquín Simó). These cocktails represent the post-Prohibition generation’s greatest contribution to the enduring art of balance.
III. Ingredients & Technique
The Paper Plane is built on equilibrium — four ingredients in perfect symmetry. It combines the warmth of bourbon, the brightness of citrus, and the complexity of Italian bitters to create a drink that feels both comforting and fresh.
Core Components
Bourbon: The backbone — smooth, caramel, and gently oaked.
Aperol: Lively orange bittersweetness for color and lift.
Amaro Nonino: Adds depth, honeyed bitterness, and spice.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed for tart contrast and balance.
The Equal-Parts Formula
0.75 oz (22 ml) bourbon
0.75 oz (22 ml) Aperol
0.75 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino
0.75 oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice
IV. Cultural Significance
The Paper Plane represents the golden age of the modern cocktail revival — an era when bartenders looked backward for inspiration and forward for refinement.
It’s the product of the same lineage that rediscovered the classics, but it proves that innovation can coexist with heritage. Its brilliance lies not in novelty, but in precision.
More than that, it symbolizes the globalization of cocktail culture: Italian amari, American bourbon, Australian creativity, and New York craftsmanship all in one glass.
The Paper Plane is both cosmopolitan and humble — a tribute to bartenders’ love of balance, beauty, and a well-timed tune.
V. How to Make the Classic Version Today
Recipe — The Classic Paper Plane
Ingredients
0.75 oz (22 ml) bourbon
0.75 oz (22 ml) Aperol
0.75 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
0.75 oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice
Method
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously until well chilled (10–12 seconds).
Double strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
Garnish with a simple paper plane or lemon twist (optional).
Specs
Glass: Coupe or Nick & Nora
Ice: Shaken, served up
Garnish: Minimalist (paper plane or twist)
Style: Equal-parts sour
Technique Notes
Use a high-quality bourbon (90–100 proof) for balance against the citrus.
Always use fresh lemon juice — bottled juice flattens the drink.
Serve cold; temperature enhances the drink’s brightness and texture.
Variations & Lineage
Last Word: The cocktail that inspired it (gin, lime, Chartreuse, maraschino).
Paper Plane Spritz: Add sparkling wine and serve over ice.
Mezcal Paper Plane: Swap bourbon for mezcal for smoke and spice.
Gold Rush Hybrid: Combine honey syrup with bourbon and Nonino for a deeper variant.
Service & Pairing Tip
Ideal as a pre-dinner aperitif or evening sipper.
Pairs beautifully with charcuterie, citrus-forward desserts, or grilled peaches.
VI. Modern Variations & Legacy
The Paper Plane stands as proof that the cocktail canon is alive and evolving.
It’s one of the few modern creations to achieve true “instant classic” status — not because of marketing or novelty, but because bartenders everywhere genuinely love making (and drinking) it.
Its balance, simplicity, and approachability have made it a teaching tool for new mixologists and a benchmark for veterans.
And like the song that inspired it, the Paper Plane is playful, precise, and unforgettable — a joyful flight through the skies of modern cocktail craft.
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