The story of the Paper Plane Cocktail

First invented in 2007, it is a young classic on the cocktail scene. Sam Ross, who we already know from the popular „Penicillin“ cocktail, and Sasha Petraske are the faces behind this drink.
Sam Ross named the cocktail after the song M.I.A. – Paper Planes, which he listened to repeatedly while developing the drink. It was created in Chicago while Sam Ross was working at „The Violet Hour“. Initially mixed with Campari. The later and finally developed recipe comes from New York from the „Milk & Honey“ where Ross then used Aperol instead of Campari.

Ingredients for the Paper Plane cocktail

There are two ingredients that cannot or should not be replaced here: the fruity, bitter Aperol liqueur and the Amaro Nonino Quintessentia. These two Italians are essential in the Paper Plane cocktail. There are variations with Campari instead of Aperol. For me, this is too far apart from the actual Paper Plane cocktail as it is served (as mentioned above) in „Milk and Honey“ in New York. Replacing the Amaro Nonino Quintessentia with other amaro such as Ramazotti or Averna is also not recommended. The flavor profile of Nonino is too unique for its own good.

Bourbon whiskey therefore offers more scope. I use either the Maker’s Mark or the Knob Creek here. The Knob Creek is the stronger of the two with its 50% vol. but nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this, it fits wonderfully into the recipe.

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