Oh boy is this one a revelation – and possibly my favorite cocktail of all time. This is a bona fide gateway drug to introduce anyone to bourbon and amari. It’s an equal-parts cocktail, essentially a riff on the Last Word. It features Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, an Italian amaro with a grappa base, and notes of botanicals, alpine herbs, and orange peel. In a pinch, Amaro Montenegro is a good substitute.
Although the drink seems like it came out of the heyday of pre-Prohibition bar culture, it was actually invented in 2008 by award-winning bartender Sam Ross (who also created the Penicillin). The drink first appeared on the opening menu of The Violet Hour in Chicago, a bar where Ross was consulting. It was so popular in Chicago that he brought it back to his bar Milk & Honey in New York City and the rest is history.
The M.I.A. hit Paper Plane was the inspiration for the name, and the drink was garnished with a tiny paper airplane. Ross recommends a higher-proof bourbon and warns not to overshake the drink; it’s easy to over dilute.
You can also try substituting grapefruit juice for lemon to make the Esprit d’Escalier or replace bourbon with tequila for the Avion de Papel.
Paper Plane
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz. Bourbon (barrel-proof preferred)
- 3/4 oz. Aperol
- 3/4 oz. Amaro Nonino
- 3/4 oz. lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in shaker
- Shake 15 seconds to combine & dilute.
- Double strain into chilled coupe.
Notes
Created by legendary bartender Sam Ross from NYC's now-defunct Milk and Honey.