Adam & Eve
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
- Difficulty
- Medium
- ABV
- ~22%
Ingredients
- ¾ ozbourbon22 ml
- ¾ ozaperol22 ml
- ¾ ozamaro nonino22 ml
- ¾ ozfresh lemon juice22 ml
Instructions
Combine all four ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 12 seconds. Double-strain into a chilled coupe. No garnish — the drink's amber-orange color is beautiful on its own. If you want something, a single expressed lemon twist dropped in is perfect.
Sips & Tips
Technique
Like the Last Word, the Paper Plane is an equal-parts cocktail — ¾ oz of everything. The temptation is to reduce the Aperol or Amaro Nonino because they're sweet, but the balance is precise. Shake hard and double-strain for a clean, silky texture.
Balance
Amaro Nonino is the key ingredient here — it's lighter and more delicate than most amari, with notes of orange, herbs, and a gentle bitterness. Don't substitute it with a heavier amaro like Averna or Montenegro; the drink will become too bitter and heavy. The bourbon should be a medium-bodied expression — Buffalo Trace or Elijah Craig work beautifully.
History
The Paper Plane was created by Sam Ross at Milk & Honey in New York City around 2007, inspired by the M.I.A. song of the same name. It's one of the defining cocktails of the modern craft cocktail era — an equal-parts drink that somehow balances four very different, assertive ingredients into something harmonious and delicious.
The Paper Plane is one of those modern classics that earns its place alongside the pre-Prohibition greats. It's complex, balanced, and genuinely delicious — and it's a great way to introduce people to amaro. Make it once and you'll understand why it's become a benchmark drink. Cheers.
Variations
Paper Plane with Mezcal
Replace the bourbon with mezcal for a smokier, more complex version. The mezcal's earthiness plays beautifully against the Aperol's sweetness and the Amaro Nonino's herbal bitterness. Use a lightly smoky mezcal like Del Maguey Vida.
Naked and Famous
Replace the bourbon with mezcal and the Amaro Nonino with Yellow Chartreuse. Joaquín Simó's variation — smoky, herbal, and citrusy. Technically a different drink, but spiritually a sibling of the Paper Plane.
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Adam & Eve
Glass: Cocktail glass | Difficulty: Medium | ABV: ~22%
Ingredients
- ¾ oz bourbon
- ¾ oz aperol
- ¾ oz amaro nonino
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Combine all four ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 12 seconds. Double-strain into a chilled coupe. No garnish — the drink's amber-orange color is beautiful on its own. If you want something, a single expressed lemon twist dropped in is perfect.