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Cocktail

Paper Plane

Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon make a vivid, bittersweet sour. Its equal measures make a complex drink easy to mix.

Whiskey · Bitter · Citrusy

5 min1 ServingCoupe

Ingredients

Ice and water are assumed. Add everything else you have.

Paper Plane · Coupe
AI-generated illustration

Method

Shake

Equipment: Jigger or measuring spoon · Cocktail shaker · Strainer

  1. Add equal measures of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon juice to a shaker.
  2. Fill with ice and shake for 10–15 seconds.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe.

A small detail

Amaro Nonino gives this recipe its particular balance. Another amaro makes a variation, not an exact match.

Estimated strength

Medium

What does this mean?

Per serving: ≈ 17.2% ABV · ≈ 20.4 g alcohol

An estimate, not a measurement. Dilution lowers concentration but does not remove alcohol. Check your bottle label. These typical alcohol levels can vary by brand and market.

Added water from ice: 25%. Water added as a percentage of the measured liquid before mixing. Ice melt varies with temperature, time and technique.

Plan for a party

Prep the base

Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.

Guests: 6

Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.

One recipe serving per guest. Choose the amount you want to prepare.

Base only: 540 ml · Per serving: 90 ml. Use a container larger than the volume shown; allow room for fruit and stirring.

Prepare the base

  • 180 ml Bourbon whiskey
  • 180 ml Amaro Nonino
  • 180 ml Aperol

Keep separate for serving

  • 180 ml Lemon (fresh juice)

Water for the batch

Do not pre-dilute this base. The original shake or stir with ice supplies the dilution at service.

Prepare and serve

  1. Measure the base ingredients into a clean, covered container and stir to combine. Keep the quantities in the serving section separate.
  2. Prepare for today’s service. Label and refrigerate the covered base; follow ingredient storage labels. Keep ice out of the container and chill the glasses before serving.
  3. For each glass, use 90 ml of base in place of those ingredients in the original method. Add the separate ingredients at their per-serving amounts. Do not measure the base ingredients a second time.
  • Prepare fresh juice close to serving and keep it chilled separately unless it is explicitly in the base. Fresh batches are for this service, not an overnight storage promise.

The list saves ingredient names, not party quantities. Check the totals above against how much you have. Garnishes and ice are not added.

Bartender sources: Campari Academy: batching techniques · Dave Arnold: measuring dilution and batching · Simon Difford: water and dilution · Jeffrey Morgenthaler: batch calculator

Sources & inspiration

About this recipe

Recipes and house adaptations have source links. Measures, substitutions and estimated strength are explained separately. Images are AI-generated illustrations.

We do not claim every recipe has been physically tested. Community reviews are moderated user reports, separate from recipe sources.

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