Wind down this weekend with the orange-tinted contemporary classic cocktail, the Paper Plane.
Going through the history of any given mixed drink is a fascinating journey. So many of them hail from cities that get mentioned often in the cocktail community… New York City, Paris, New Orleans, San Francisco. Many a legendary tipple has been invented and enjoyed in these concrete jungles, spreading their crowd-pleasing sips around the world. Chicago is one such metropolis. The Windy City has laid claim to more than a few classic alcoholic beverages, including the one we’re making tonight, the Paper Plane.
In 2008, Toby Maloney was running a popular Chi-Town watering hole called The Violet Hour. Wanting a new signature cocktail for the upcoming summer months, he turned to his friends (and former mixologist colleagues) Sam Ross and Sasha Petraske. Using a pre-Prohibition drink—the Last Word—as their inspiration, Sam and Sasha got to work and began crafting a new recipe. Their original concoction was comprised of bourbon, lemon juice, Campari and Amaro Nonino. The Campari proved to be too bitter and intense, so Aperol was used instead, giving the new cocktail a vibrant orange hue and sweeter, citrusy flavor. The duo listened to M.I.A.’s trance-like song “Paper Planes” on a constant loop, itself sampled from The Clash classic “Straight to Hell”, for inspiration. When their invention needed a name, it was naturally christened the Paper Plane.
Excited about their new potion, Ross called Maloney to give him the good news. After imbibing a few libations, either in celebration or research, Sam had left Toby a slightly “buzzed” voicemail describing the drink and its name. Because of the slurred speech on the message, Maloney misheard the name and mistakenly listed it as the Paper Airplane on the menu at The Violet Hour. Pretty soon, though, that was corrected. And the drink exploded in popularity, causing it to—pardon my pun—take off.
In 2020, the Paper Plane was added to the International Bartenders Association’s list of official cocktails. The IBA has it in the category of “New Era Drinks”. After making a few for yourself, you’ll be able to see why this is a contemporary classic, destined to be around for decades to come.
What is Amaro nonino?
Amaro Nonino is a bittersweet Italian liqueur, and a digestif. It is made from grappa and infused with botanical ingredients such as rhubarb, licorice, gentian and tamarind to name a few. It can have flavor notes like caramel, vanilla and bitter orange. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels, Amaro Nonino is often used in cocktails, spritzes or served straight, either up or on the rocks.
What is the best bourbon to use in a paper plane?
I’ve been on a bourbon kick lately. I love to mix the spirit, have it on the rocks or sip it straight up. Spicy, smooth and robust, bourbon traditionally was distilled and bottled in Kentucky. If your bourbon came from anywhere else, you’d have whiskey. Nowadays, your bourbon must come from American soil, instead of just Kentucky, for it to be considered the real deal. If you’re new to the joys of this dark brown elixir, you can’t go wrong by giving it a try with a bottle of Jim Beam. As you become more seasoned, I’d recommend some High West, Bulleit or Buffalo Trace.
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz Aperol
- 3/4 oz Amaro Nonino
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- Lemon twist for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.
- Shake vigorously with ice cubes for about 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist by twisting the peel over the drink, then dropping it into the glass.
Nutrition
FAQs & Helpful Hints
Chill a cocktail glass or coupe in your freezer for up to thirty minutes before serving. Most purists will tell you this drink doesn’t use a garnish, but some folks like a lemon twist.
If you need to upscale this recipe for a large group, you can premix the ingredients and store covered in your fridge for a few days. Just shake individual servings over ice.
At 162 calories, this mixture, while pretty potent, will keep you feeling aerodynamic (instead of too heavy).
If you don’t have a shaker, don’t worry. When you’re new to the world of cocktails this is something that isn’t usually lying around your kitchen. If it is, great. If not, you can purchase a pretty decent one for a nice price. If you absolutely refuse to buy a shaker, you can use a travel coffee mug, a sealable mason jar or a protein shaker in a pinch. Having a stainless steel shaker is worth it, though. It’s the first tool every armchair bartender should have.
Similar Cocktails to the paper plane
The Paper Plane has taken you on a ride memorable enough, that you’re now on a journey for other sophisticated craft cocktails. Adventures of the balanced and boozy kind are your jam, and if you need a guide into these flavorful, but often intimidating lands, let Twist & Toast point you in the right direction. Try out a few of these delicious concoctions during your next at-home happy hour.
- Old Pal – Coming from Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, circa the 1920s, is this smooth twist on the Negroni.
- Lion’s Tail – Bourbon and allspice dram meet to make this elixir from the 1930s.
- Eastside – Inspired by the Prohibition-era Southside cocktail, this contemporary tipple features lime juice instead of lemon.
- Bramble – Blackberry liqueur features in this fruity British cocktail from the 1980s.
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