Best Paper Plane Toast Off

Ever wonder what the best paper plane cocktail recipe is? How different can they be if all you change is the bourbon? What if you split the base and add rye? What if you clarify it? What if you use a darker amaro or a 12+ year aged rum instead? Well, we tried a 8 different variations and one was crowned the winner… for good reason.

Recounting the Tale

If you visited The Violet Hour in Chicago during summer 2008 and kept their menu, you might have a rare item featuring a drink called The Paper Airplane. Originally created by bartender Sam Ross of Milk & Honey in New York, at the request of Toby Maloney, The Violet Hour’s co-founder, the cocktail initially included bourbon, lemon juice, Amaro Nonino, and Campari. Inspired by the song “Paper Planes” by M.I.A., Ross intended to name it the Paper Plane, but a misheard voicemail led to its early version being called The Paper Airplane. However, after Ross found the initial version too bitter, he replaced Campari with Aperol, achieving the balanced cocktail that became widely known as the Paper Plane.

The Toast Off

• 11 tasters
• 8 paper plane recipes
• All cocktails were made within minutes of each other to allow for side by side tastings, since cocktails can change dramatically over time (as things like temperature and dilution change)
• All cocktails were shaken with ice and poured neat (with the option to add ice to all 8 cocktails as they sit)
• All cocktails were served in identical glassware and without garnish
• Each taster ranked each cocktail in order from worst to best for overall flavor, with additional tasting notes on each
• All cocktails were measured strictly according to the recipe instructions but omitted any garnish or ice serving instructions as to keep each cocktail as identical in appearance as possible
• For any recipe that did not call for a specific bourbon or amaro, we used Buffalo Trace and Amaro Nonino.

• Bourbon (Buffalo Trace)
• Bourbon (Still Austin Cask Strength)
• Bourbon (Evan Williams, Bottled in Bond)
• Lemon juice
• Aperol
• Amaro Montenegro
• Amaro Nonino
• Amaro Averna
• Campari
• Whole milk
• Water
• Long aged rum (Flor de Caña 18 Year)
• Mezcal (Minero)

• Shan: To test a heavier bourbon pour using a “normal” strength bourbon to see if Shan’s claim of better balance holds true.
• Punch Drink / Sam Ross V1: Selected as the original version created by Sam Ross and served at Violet Hour in Chicago, known for its more bitter profile and less sweetness compared to later versions.
• Bartlett’s Austin: Chosen for its use of stronger cask strength bourbon and a swap from Amaro Nonino to Montengero, offering a local favorite with a unique twist.
• Drinksbyevie: Included to evaluate if the clarified version can match the punch of the freshly shaken version.
• Drunken Diplomacy: Selected to explore the potential of a long-aged rum in summer cocktails and to see if it can compete with bourbon variations.
• Punch Drink / Sam Ross V2: Picked for being the updated and widely adopted version that uses Aperol instead of Campari, reputed for better balance according to Sam Ross.
• Reddit: Included based on a discussion by a Paper Plane enthusiast group on Reddit, which suggests that using bottled-in-bond bourbon and darker Amaro Averna results in a superior drink.
• Toasty Bird: Chosen to craft a split-base version that combines heavy citrus with light smoke mezcal, testing its potential against traditional Paper Plane variations.

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Full Rankings

8. Best for a Bitter Punch: Drunken Diplomacy

Taster Notes:
Strong and bitter with prominent notes of coffee and deep cherry. The bourbon is bold, making it a bit of a departure from the rest.

Ingredients:

• .75 ounce of Long Aged Rum (Flor de Caña 18 Year)
• .75 ounce of Amaro Averna
• .75 ounce of Campari
• .75 ounce of Lemon Juice

7. Best for Grapefruit Lovers: Punch Drink / Sam Ross V1

Taster Notes:
Features a strong grapefruit and campari profile with noticeable bitterness. Not ideal if you dislike grapefruit’s sharp bite.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce of bourbon (buffalo trace)
• 1 ounce of lemon juice
• 1 ounce of campari
• 1 ounce of amaro nonino

6. Best for a Light and Refreshing Drink: Drinksbyevie

Taster Notes:
Very light and refreshing, but lacking in depth and citrus punch. It has a white wine-like quality and is quite mild.

Ingredients:

• 200 ml fresh lemon juice
• 200 ml aperol
• 200 ml amaro (I recommend using either Amaro Nonino or Amaro Montenegro)
• 200 ml bourbon
• 200 ml whole milk
• 120 ml water

5. Best for a Smokey Twist: Toasty Bird

Taster Notes:
Combines smokey mezcal with bourbon for a unique, bitter profile. The mezcal is dominant, creating a distinct, somewhat skunky flavor.

Ingredients:

• .75 ounce of bourbon (evan williams, bottled in bond)
• .25 ounce of mezcal (used minero, but choose something light in smoke)
• 1 ounce of lemon juice
• 1 ounce of aperol
• 1 ounce of amaro nonino

4. Best for a Classic Bourbon Kick: Reddit

Taster Notes:
Bourbon-forward with a touch of sweetness and spice. A straightforward, easy-to-drink option with a strong bourbon presence.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce of bourbon (evan williams, bottled in bond)
• 1 ounce of lemon juice
• 1 ounce of aperol
• 1 ounce of amaro averna

3. Best for a Sweet and Fruity Balance: Bartlett’s Austin

Taster Notes:
Smooth and refreshing with a nice balance of sweetness and citrus. The blood orange adds depth to this easy-to-drink classic.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce of bourbon (still austin cask strength)
• 1 ounce of lemon juice
• 1 ounce of aperol
• 1 ounce of amaro montenegro

2. Best for a Balanced Citrus Punch: Shan

Taster Notes:
Well-balanced with a classic mix of citrus and bourbon. It’s tart and citrus-forward with a slight bourbon kick, making it a standout choice.

Ingredients:

• 1.25 ounce of Bourbon (buffalo trace)
• .75 ounce of Aperol
• .75 ounce of Amaro Montenegro
• .75 ounce of Lemon

1. Best for a Refreshing Classic: Punch Drink / Sam Ross V2

Taster Notes:
A classic and refreshing cocktail with a balanced citrus profile. It’s easy to drink and has a well-rounded, sweet taste that consistently impresses.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce of bourbon (buffalo trace)
• 1 ounce of lemon juice
• 1 ounce of aperol
• 1 ounce of amaro nonino