Paper Plane
Equal parts bourbon, bittersweet amaro, light orange aperitivo and lemon. Tart, gently bitter and easy to remember.
- MethodShaken
- GlassCoupe
- IceNone (served up)
- Strengthabout 15.0% ABV
- BaseWhiskey, Wine & aperitivo
- Tastebitter, sour, fruity
Recipe
| 22.5 ml ¾ oz | Bourbon |
| 22.5 ml ¾ oz | Bittersweet grappa-based amaro |
| 22.5 ml ¾ oz | Light orange aperitivo (about 11%) |
| 22.5 ml ¾ oz | Fresh lemon juice |
Garnish. Traditionally none; some bars clip a tiny folded paper plane to the rim.
Method
- Chill a coupe.
- Shake all four ingredients hard with ice for 12 to 15 seconds.
- Double strain into the chilled coupe.
About the Paper Plane
The Paper Plane is four ingredients in equal measure, in the pattern of the Last Word. Bourbon gives it body, the grappa-based amaro brings bitter orange and caramel, the light orange aperitivo adds rhubarb-like bitterness and colour, and lemon keeps it sharp. It drinks lighter than its bourbon content suggests.
History
Documented
Sam Ross created the drink in 2008 for the summer menu of The Violet Hour, a Chicago bar run by his former Milk & Honey colleague Toby Maloney. He named it after the M.I.A. song Paper Planes. His first version used a stronger red bitter aperitivo; he found it too bitter and switched to the lighter orange one, which is the recipe that spread.
Disputed or unclear: Some accounts date the first version to 2007, before it appeared on the menu in 2008.
Variations
- Last Word. The equal-parts template it follows: gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime.
- Naked and Famous. A mezcal equal-parts drink with yellow Chartreuse and lime, from the same school.
- Penicillin. Another Sam Ross modern classic, with Scotch, honey and ginger.
Bartender's notes
- Because every part is equal, measure carefully; a heavy pour of any one throws the balance.
- Use a bourbon of 45% or more so the whiskey is not lost behind the amaro.
