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January 30, 2020

Favorite Equal Parts Drink: The Paper Plane

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The Paper Plane Cocktail has become one of our all-time house favorites – in a somewhat unlikely fashion. Amari – bitter and complex Italian liqueurs of which Campari is the best known, were having a major moment a few years back. (Note, they’re still great.)

A flight of Paper Planes on New Year’s Eve, carried by the Booze Magician’s Assistant

Someone bought me a bottle of Amaro Nonino, a somewhat obscure one, as a welcome gift. I was grateful of course, but a little perplexed about what to do with it. Then I noticed that the Nonino family’s thoughtful marketing team had enclosed a booklet that included a cocktail recipe. The rest is history – I’ve probably bought a case of this Amaro (so way to GO, Marketing Team!) – made countless rounds of this drink, and spread its gospel wide.

Paper Plane Cocktail
Paper Plane Cocktail

The Paper Plane Cocktail is a four ingredient equal parts drink with the aforementioned Amaro Nonino, Bourbon, Aperol, and lemon juice. The Amaro is very orange forward but much more complex than the Aperol, giving the cocktail impressive depth. And coupled with the lemon it remains bright and refreshing. It’s equally appropriate by a fireside and on the patio – it just works all year round. With most equal parts drinks, you really don’t want equal parts – they’re too sweet for our modern tastes. I think it’s best to heavy up on the primary spirit and dial down the secondary ones. With this one, equal parts work.

Serve up, and unless you’re feeling cute, no garnish. If you’re feeling cute, garnish with a tiny paper plane on a cocktail pick.

Paper Plane Cocktail

Paper Plane

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Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 oz Bourbon
  • 3/4 oz Amaro Nonino
  • 3/4 oz Aperol
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Instructions
 

  • Add ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and have at it for 20 seconds or so.
  • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, no garnish.

Notes

Amaro Nonino can be tricky to find. Amaro Montegro works and makes the drink a little more bitter, still tasty. Some friends have had success with Amaro Lucano, but felt it was a different drink. There are a lot of amari out there.
Keyword amaro, aperol, bourbon, cocktail, lemon

The Paper Plane Cocktail was invented by Sam Ross, and is featured on the Amaro website. Apparently, it’s named after the MIA song, Paper Planes, also a favorite. Both date from 2007.

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About the Barkeep

The Booze Magician has been mixing drinks for about 20 years now with minimal formal training, just reading and close observation on the rare occasions he goes out to a bar, plus trial and error. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife (The Booze Magician’s Assistant) and kids (for whom he’s currently building a treehouse). By day, he works in online advertising. Read more of his cocktail musings here.

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As a member of the Amazon Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases of products I recommend on this site.

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