Clarified Paper Plane
Advanced
Bitter & Herb
2 Minutes (plus 24 h prep time)
Rocks Glass
Ingredients
The Clarified Paper Plane is a clarified version of the Paper Plane cocktail.
That’s right, it’s time to fasten your seatbeats as Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, takes the Paper Plane cocktail to new heights by creating a silky, clarified version of the drink that’s so smooth, it’s practically flying first class!
In the video, Rico shows you how to make a batch of Clarified Paper Plane cocktails, meaning you’ll have enough for the entire cabin and crew!
Ready for take-off? Let’s make the Clarified Paper Plane!
How To Make a CLARIFIED PAPER PLANE Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Knife
Jigger
Citrus Elbow
Day one: Clarifying the Cocktail
The following measurements are for a batch, making approx. 8-9 servings:
200 ml Bourbon
200 ml Italian Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur
200 ml Amaro (made from Grappa)
200 ml High Fat Milk
200 ml Lemon Juice
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Use a Paring Knife to cut several Lemons in half.
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Using a Citrus Elbow or Citrus Press, juice each Lemon into a Measuring Jug.
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Use a Jigger to measure and pour the Italian Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur into the Measuring Jug.
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Measure and pour Amaro into the Jug.
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Measure and pour Full-Fat Milk into the Jug.
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Place the mixture into a refrigerator overnight.
Day Two: Straining
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- Place a Paper Coffee Filter into a Pour Over Coffee Dripper.
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Place the Coffee Dripper on top of a Jug then slowly pour the refrigerated mixture into the Jug and let the mixture slowly drip.
Day Two: Serving the drink
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Place a Large Ice Cube into a Rocks Glass.
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Measure and pour an individual serve (approx 150 ml) directly into the glass.
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Use a Paring Knife to cut a coin-shaped disc of Orange Zest, then squeeze the oils over the drink before placing the disc onto the Ice Cube to garnish.
Watch Rico show how to make the Clarified Paper Plane & Absolut Paper Plane:
All about the Clarified Paper Plane
As the name implies, the Clarified Paper Plane is a clarified, refined version of the Paper Plane cocktail.
Like the original Paper Plane, it combines bourbon, amaro (derived from grappa), Italian red bitter liqueur, and lemon juice, but then adds full-fat milk for the clarification or milk-washing process.
The cocktail mixture is refrigerated for a few hours to allow curdling, then filtered to produce a crystal-clear drink with intensified flavor.
“Smooth, chocolate-y, orange-y with all that flavor coming from the Amaro,” shares Rico. Mmmm, delicious.
The Paper Plane cocktail was created in 2007 for a bar in Chicago, USA and described by its creators as a riff of The Last Word cocktail. The Last Word is a Gin-based classic cocktail that dates all the way back to 1910.
In 2020, the Paper Plane was added to the International Bartenders Association’s (IBA) list of official cocktails.
In the summer of 2024, Rico made a clarified version of the Paper Plane for an episode of ‘Absolut Drinks with Rico’.
- Fresh Lemon Juice
To achieve the same quality and flavor as the drinks served at a bar, freshly squeezed Lemon Juice is essential. Sure, it takes more effort, but it’ll make all the difference to your drink. - Let the mixture refrigerate overnight
For the best results, we recommend refrigerating the mixture overnight. However, if you’re in a rush or have guests coming over soon, a few hours in the refrigerator should be OK. - Chill your glassware
This tip applies to basically any cocktail, not just the clarified Paper Plane. Pre-chilling your glassware in a freezer before you pour in the mixture just enhances the drinking experience.
- Absolut Paper Plane
Rico follows the exact same recipe above but swaps out the Bourbon for Absolut Vodka to create the Absolut Paper Plane. And does it work?
“The Bourbon brings a lot to the Paper Plane. This is going more towards a Negroni type of flavor as opposed to a Paper Plane type of flavor but it’s a very accessible version. I don’t really think it’s a Paper Plane but it’s definitely a drink I’m going to make again in the future,” shares Rico.
“If you’re not used to drinking Italian Aperitivo Liqueurs, this might be a way to get into it very slowly because it is dulled down a bit to a more accessible flavor,” he adds. - Paper Plane
The clarified Paper Plane, as the name suggests, is a clarified version of the Paper Plane cocktail.The original, non-clarified version consists of equal parts Bourbon, Amaro, Italian Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur, and freshly squeezed Lemon Juice. The mixture is then shaken with Ice and fine-strained into a Couple Glass.
The International Bartenders Association (IBA) suggests the Paper Plane should be served straight up in a cocktail glass, chilled, without Ice and without garnish.
However, for the clarified version, Rico recommends serving it in a Rocks Glass with a Large Ice Cube, garnished with Orange Zest.
Wondering what glassware you should use? Read our article on the different types of glassware used for making cocktails.
Since it's made with equal parts, it makes it a damn easy drink to clarify. Let me tell you right now, it's a winner.
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
Clarified Paper Plane FAQ
Cocktail clarification is a technique used to enhance cocktails by removing impurities and unwanted particles. This process results in a smoother, clearer and more refined drink.
One popular method of cocktail clarification is milk-washing, which is what Rico does to create the clarified Paper Plane. As you see in the video, milk-washing involves adding Full-Fat Milk to a cocktail mixture, which contains acidic components such as citrus juice. The acid in the cocktail causes the Milk to curdle, forming Curds and Whey.
The curds trap impurities and particles, which can then be strained out, leaving behind a clarified liquid. The resulting cocktail has a silky texture and a more balanced flavor profile.
Yes, but it’s worth noting that, in general, Plant-Based Milk is more challenging to curdle and clarify.
Rico suggests experimenting with different Plant-Based Milks to discover which one works best for you. The key is to find a Plant-Based Milk with a fat content similar to Regular Milk.
Many people recommend Coconut Milk, while others suggest Oat Milk. The key factor is finding a Full Fat Plant-Based Milk.
“Once you’ve done your curdling and actually clarified your drink and strained it, this drink (clarified Paper Plane) will last up to six months in your fridge,” says Rico.
We recommend using the orange-red colored one that’s commonly used in Italian spritzers.
