Paper Plane Cocktail

This recipe is a part of 24 Days of Holiday Cocktails. Come back every day to reveal a new festive drink and stay holly jolly all season long.

I can’t remember exactly the first time I tasted a Paper Plane cocktail, but what I can tell you is it became a favorite after just one sip. The combination of bourbon, Aperol, amaro, and lemon juice results in a rosy orange-hued cocktail that’s just about as balanced as they come. It’s citrusy, warming, and bitter, with just the right amount of sweetness. 

The Paper Plane cocktail is a drink I love making for guests because it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser — including those who don’t usually go for whiskey-based cocktails. 

A Paper Plane cocktail is an equal-parts drink that features bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, and lemon juice. It is a modern twist on another classic cocktail called the Last Word, which is an equal-parts drink composed of gin, lime juice, maraschino liqueur, and green Chartreuse. 

Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, as the name implies, is a type of amaro, which is an Italian bittersweet herbal liqueur that’s most traditionally enjoyed as a digestif. The world of amari is vast and no two brands taste the same. Amaro Nonino is lighter in both body and color than many and has a distinct citrus-forward flavor. There’s really no substitute for it in a Paper Plane. 

It is, however, pricey at about $50 for a bottle. To me, it’s worth the cost, as you only need a mere 3/4 ounce per drink — so one bottle will give you many, many rounds of cocktails. 

However, if you have trouble finding it or would prefer to spend a little less, Amaro Montenegro is your next best choice. It will give the cocktail a slightly darker hue and a flavor that’s less citrusy and a touch more spicy and herbal, but it’s a worthy substitute.

Because this is an equal-parts cocktail, no one ingredient overpowers the others. It’s bright and citrus-forward with bittersweetness from the Aperol and amaro that’s balanced by the nutty notes of bourbon. A Paper Plane is a smooth and refreshing drink that’s easy to sip.