I like a good cocktail every now and then. I always enjoy a Manhattan Cocktail made with Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye, but lately I have been enjoying a Paper Plane cocktail made with Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon. I like a high proof whiskey in my cocktails because they tend to be more whiskey forward. I want to taste the whiskey in my cocktails.

The Paper Plane Cocktail was developed around 2007 by Sasha Petraske and Sam Ross at the Chicago bar The Violet Hour. It is a spin-off of the equal parts gin cocktail The Last Word. It is easy to make and quite delicious. Here is the recipe:

.75 oz. Amaro Nonino

.75 oz. Aperol

.75 oz. Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon

.75 oz. Fresh lemon juice, strained

Combine the Amaro Nonino, Aperol, Bourbon, and lemon Juice in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and serve.

The cocktail has a tartness from the lemon juice and a slight bitterness from the Amaro Nonino and the Aperol that is balanced by the sweet vanilla and caramel of the Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon. It pairs well with a good Padron Maduro cigar. The cocktail is also very good if you use a good Rye whiskey instead of Bourbon. I would recommend Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye or some other high proof Rye whiskey when making it with a Rye whiskey. 

Photos courtesy of Rosemary Miller