Paper Plane.
A modern classic built on perfect symmetry — equal parts bourbon, Aperol, amaro and fresh lemon juice. A riff on the Last Word, it achieves a rare four-way balance of spirit, bittersweet aperitivo, herbal amaro and bright citrus that feels greater than the sum of its parts.
Backstory & Character
"Created in 2007 by Sam Ross at The Violet Hour in Chicago, inspired by M.I.A.'s song Paper Planes playing repeatedly during its development. The cocktail is a riff on the Last Word — a four-equal-parts classic from the 1920s — and was originally made with Amaro Nonino Quintessentia. When Ross moved to New York's Milk & Honey, he refined the formula, replacing an initially harsher bitter with a softer aperitivo liqueur to achieve its signature bittersweet balance. It is now considered one of the defining cocktails of the 21st century."
The Method
Step by Step
Pre-chill a coupe glass. Combine bourbon, Aperol, amaro and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 12 seconds. Fine-strain into the chilled coupe. No garnish is necessary, though a lemon zest twist expressed over the surface adds a fragrant aromatic finish.