The paper plane cocktail is a sweet, tart, ever-so-slightly bitter drink. It’s a simple 4-ingredient cocktail that you’ll crave all the time!
And while it has two amaro liqueurs in it, don’t be scared-- it’s not nearly as bitter as a Negroni (although if you like that, you have to try this smoky mezcal negroni. It's so good).
It’s light, fresh, and complex, and a fantastic gateway drink to the wide world of bitter liqueurs.
how to make a paper plane cocktail
2. Shake until chilled.
What can I use instead of Amaro Nonino Quintessentia?
No worries if you don’t have Amaro Nonino. There are a ton of amari that will work! The sugar and alcohol level varies for each amaro, as does the color, intensity of bitterness, and flavor profile, but there are still some great substitute options.
Below is a list of bitter liqueurs that come closest to Amaro Nonino:
Amaro Nonino is 35% abv and has notes of thyme, orange peel, and spices. It has a delicate bitterness and a light brown color.
- Averna (32% abv) has a dark, rich color and notes of chocolate, spice, and licorice. When used in a Paper Plane, the color won’t be as bright and orange, and the taste will be a touch more bitter and herbal.
- If you love Averna, try our Black Manhattan recipe!
- Meletti (32% abv) has caramel, cola, and chocolate flavors with hints of anise and saffron. It will bring darker, more bitter notes to the cocktail.
- Ramazzotti (30% abv) has alcohol and sweetness levels similar to Amaro Nonino. The flavor leans more towards licorice and vanilla.
- Montenegro (23% abv) is a great option. It has a lightness to it, with notes of perfumed flowers, dried fruits, orange peel, and herbs.
- Cynar (16.5% abv) works in a pinch and will bring a much more vegetal, earthy flavor to the drink, and half the alcohol. It will be different, but still delicious.
For the lower alcohol amari mentioned above, consider using a cask-strength bourbon in the cocktail to balance out the alcohol difference.
Then, whatever you buy, use it in this frothy amaro sour cocktail! It's such a fun way enjoy different types of amari.
Printpaper plane cocktail
The paper plane cocktail is a sweet, tart, ever-so-slightly bitter drink. It’s a simple 4-ingredient cocktail that you’ll crave all the time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ¾ oz bourbon
- ¾ oz Aperol
- ¾ oz Amaro Nonino
- ¾ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and enjoy.
Notes
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 6.4mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Recipe originally posted February 5, 2024. Updated June 23, 2025.
Shelley says
I’m so excited you did this cocktail recipe because I just borrowed some Amaro Nonino from a friend to try it! We are big bourbon and aperol spritz fans, so I’m excited to try something a little different. And I did not know that amaro is a whole category, so this will be super fun, thank you!