Clarified Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Paper Plane is an equal-parts cocktail made with Bourbon, Amaro (made from Grappa) and a red-orange Italian Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur. 

But fasten your seatbelts, 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, resulting in just under 1 liter (32 oz). In other words, you’ll have enough for the entire cabin and crew!

Many people think that clarified cocktails take a lot of effort. But as Rico explains, because the clarified Paper Plane is “made with equal parts Lemon Juice, it makes it a damn easy drink to clarify.”  

Ready for take-off? Let’s make the clarified Paper Plane!

How To Make a Clarified Paper Plane Cocktail

Firstly, what does a clarified Paper Plane taste like? “Smooth, chocolate-y, orange-y with all that flavor coming from the Amaro,” shares Rico. Mmmm, delicious.

What You’ll Need

• Citrus Elbow (or Lemon Press)
• Measuring Jug
• Paper Coffee Filter
• Pour Over Coffee Dripper (or other type of Funnel)
• Tall Glass Jug
• Paring Knife
• Rocks Glass

How to Mix

1. Use a Paring Knife to cut several Lemons in half. Using a Citrus Elbow or Citrus Press, juice each Lemon half into a Measuring Jug.
2. Measure and pour the Italian Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur into the Measuring Jug.
3. Measure and pour Amaro into the Jug.
4. Measure and pour Bourbon into the Jug.
5. Measure and pour Full-Fat Milk into the Jug.
6. Place the mixture into a refrigerator overnight.
7. Place a Paper Coffee Filter into a Pour Over Coffee Dripper.
8. Place the Coffee Dripper on top of a Tall Glass Jug then slowly pour the refrigerated mixture in the Measuring Jug through the Coffee Dripper and let the mixture slowly drip into the Tall Glass Jug. 
9. Place a Large Ice Cube into a Rocks Glass, then pour an individual serve directly into the Glass.
10. Use a Paring Knife to cut a coin-shaped disc of Orange Zest, then squeeze the oils over the drink before placing the Orange Zest disc onto the Ice Cube to garnish.
11. Sip and enjoy!

The History of the Clarified Paper Plane Cocktail

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’.

Tips for Making the Perfect Clarified Paper Plane cocktail

• 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.
  

Variations of a Clarified Paper Plane

• 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’s 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.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Clarified Paper Plane

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.