David Thornton
The Paper Plane was created by Sam Ross (the same bartender behind the Penicillin) at Milk & Honey in New York, and named after the M.I.A. song. It follows the Last Word's equal-parts template but replaces the herbal intensity with Italian bittersweet amari, creating something more approachable and endlessly drinkable.
The Equal Parts Formula
Like the Last Word and the Negroni, the Paper Plane's genius is in its equal-parts simplicity. Four ingredients, each at 22.5ml, creating a drink where no single element dominates. The bourbon provides warmth, the Aperol brings citrus bitterness, the Amaro Nonino adds honeyed complexity, and the lemon ties it all together.
Amaro Nonino: The Secret Weapon
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is a grappa-based Italian amaro with notes of honey, citrus, and warm spices. It's what elevates the Paper Plane from a simple bourbon sour into something extraordinary. There's no perfect substitute — Montenegro comes closest but lacks Nonino's elegance.
Why It Works
The Paper Plane is the rare cocktail that converts amaro sceptics. The Aperol's gentle bitterness and the Nonino's honeyed warmth work with the bourbon rather than against it, while the lemon keeps everything bright and forward-moving.
