The Paper Plane Cocktail

ABOUT THE PAPER PLANE COCKTAIL

Invented in 2007 by Aussie bartender Sam Ross, the Paper Plane cocktail is a modern twist on the Last Word — this time made with bourbon whiskey, Amaro Nonino, Aperol Aperitif, and lemon juice, all in equal parts. The cocktail strikes a delicate balance between sweet, sour and herbal notes and is widely considered to be a “modern classic” cocktail.

With a seductive, pink hue, a barrel-aged backbone of American whiskey, and a duo of Italian bitters, The Paper Plane is technically a member of the “whiskey sour” family, but as you can see, it’s got a whole lot more going on besides booze, sugar, and acidity.

PAPER PLANE VARIATIONS

The Paper Plane is known as a riff of the Last Word cocktail, despite not having any of the same ingredients. But that’s okay – it’s totally allowed. What’s important to remember when making a “Last Word riff” is to balance four tastes and flavors: sweet, sour, boozy, and herbal. Other cocktails that operate using a similar format include the Last of the Oaxacans (featuring mezcal as the base spirit) and the Naked and Famous, which employs Yellow Chartreuse.