Paper Plane
Equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon — a 2007 equal-parts modern classic by Sam Ross.
The Paper Plane is an equal-parts modern cocktail created by Sam Ross in 2007, combining bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, and fresh lemon juice in equal proportions. Ross explicitly cited the Last Word (equal parts gin, Chartreuse, maraschino, lime) as the structural model. The name references M.I.A.'s 2007 song 'Paper Planes.' Each of the four components represents a distinct flavour role: bourbon (sweet-grain base), Aperol (bitter-citrus), Amaro Nonino (herbal-bitter), and lemon (acid). The cocktail is considered a defining example of the modern equal-parts canon and demonstrates the direct lineage from pre-Prohibition formula structure to contemporary bartending.
Quick facts
- Type
- Modern Recipe
- Base spirits
- bourbon, aperol, amaro nonino
- Era
- 2007–present
- Origin
- New York City, United States
- Glass
- coupe
- IBA listed
- No
The Last Word Template and Sam Ross's Design
Sam Ross created the Paper Plane while working at Milk & Honey in New York City, with the explicit design goal of applying the Last Word's equal-parts structural template to American spirits. The correspondence is direct: bourbon replaces gin (base spirit), Aperol replaces Chartreuse (bitter modifier), Amaro Nonino replaces maraschino (herbal-sweet modifier), and lemon juice replaces lime (citrus). Each substitution shifts the cocktail's character from the European-herbal gin tradition to the American-whiskey and Italian-amaro tradition. The song 'Paper Planes' by M.I.A. (2007) provided the name.
Aperol vs. Amaro Nonino: Two Italian Bitter Liqueurs
Aperol and Amaro Nonino Quintessentia are both Italian bitter liqueurs but have distinct profiles. Aperol (produced in Padua since 1919) is a bright orange aperitivo liqueur at 11% ABV, made with bitter and sweet oranges, gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona. Its bright orange colour and relatively low alcohol make it a light, citrus-forward bitter modifier. Amaro Nonino Quintessentia (produced in Friuli-Venezia Giulia) is more complex at 35% ABV, based on grappa distillate infused with mountain herbs (chamomile, gentiaan, licorice root, tamarind). The high-proof, grappa-based Nonino contributes vanilla-caramel grain notes alongside herbal bitterness, bridging the bourbon base and the lighter Aperol.
Sources & further reading (1)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-08
Frequently asked questions
Can Amaro Nonino be substituted with other amaros?
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is specified because its grappa base and mountain-herb character provide the specific sweetness-herbal bitterness balance the formula requires. Substitutions (Amaro Montenegro, Cynar, Fernet) produce notably different cocktails due to different bitterness profiles, herb compositions, and sugar levels. Amaro Montenegro (sweeter, orange-forward) produces a more approachable but less complex drink. Cynar (artichoke-based, more intensely bitter) shifts the balance heavily toward bitterness.
What makes the Paper Plane an 'equal parts' cocktail?
An equal-parts cocktail specifies the same volume for every ingredient, creating a structural balance where no single component dominates. The Last Word and Paper Plane use four equal parts; each component must be high quality because any imbalance is immediately apparent. The formula (0.75 oz / 22.5 ml of each ingredient, shaken and double-strained) produces a 3 oz drink before dilution. Equal-parts formulas are considered a design challenge because combining spirit, two liqueurs, and citrus in equal volumes requires that each component's sweetness, bitterness, and acid are naturally compatible.