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The Paper Plane cocktail is a light, refreshing grapefruit-tinged cocktail with the sophistication of a vintage flight.
History of the Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe
If you’ve heard of the Penicillin Cocktail, you might know the inventor of the Paper Plane Cocktail—Sam Ross. Ross is a very well-known bartender from the famed New York bar Milk & Honey, which is also where the Gold Rush Cocktail was invented.
A few years after Ross created the Penicillin Cocktail, he and Milk & Honey owner Sasha Petraske created the Paper Plane cocktail for the opening of a colleague’s Chicago-based bar named The Violet Hour.
This bourbon-based cocktail is named after “Paper Planes,” a popular M.I.A. song you may have heard in Slumdog Millionaire and Pineapple Express.
The Paper Plane and the Last Word
How are these two cocktails connected? To put it simply, the Paper Plane is a modern-day version of the Prohibition-era, gin-based Last Word cocktail.
The Paper Plane cocktail recipe replaces gin with bourbon, uses Green Chartreuse and Maraschino liqueur instead of Aperol and Amaro Nonino, and swaps lime juice with lemon juice, all in ¾ oz amounts each.
Paper Plane Cocktail Ingredients
So, what’s in a paper plane cocktail, anyway?
- Bourbon whiskey
- Aperol
- Amara Nonino Quintessentia
- Fresh lemon juice
How to Make a Paper Plane Cocktail
Today, we’re going to learn how to make this beautiful bourbon-based cocktail with just 4 ingredients.
First, add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice: bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, and lemon juice.
Then, cover and shake until very well chilled.
Next, strain the drink mixture into a coupe glass, or a martini glass like I have. Add a garnish—like a mini paper plane or lemon twist—and enjoy!
How Many Calories in a Paper Plane?
One Paper Plane cocktail has approximately 181 calories in it.
Tools You Need
- Cocktail Shaker Set
- Cocktail Clip
- Origami Set
- Gold-Rimmed Glasses
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How did you like taking off in today’s cocktail? 🙂 I hope you’re loving our cocktail hours together! Let me know what you think—and if you have a request by commenting below. ‘Til our next shaken adventure…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
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📸 Did you make this paper plane cocktail recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it! 📸
Paper Plane Cocktail
Ingredients
Paper Plane Ingredients
- ¾ oz bourbon whiskey
- ¾ oz Aperol
- ¾ oz Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
- ¾ oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Add all bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or a paper plane on a cocktail clip.
- ★ Last Step: If you made this recipe, leave a comment and review. It truly helps our small business keep running and it helps readers like you!
More Drink Recipes
- Birthday Cake Shot
- Cadillac Margarita
- Hot and Dirty Martini
- Brown Derby
- Hot White Russian
- Mint Water • Cucumber Water
Like this recipe? Share it with friends!
Did you make this recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it!
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