Ingredients:
- 75 fl oz Bourbon Whiskey (High-proof, medium-bodied)
- 75 fl oz Amaro Nonino Quintessentia (Herbal Liqueur)
- 75 fl oz Aperol (Italian bitter apéritif)
- 75 fl oz Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Ice (As needed for shaking)
Instructions:
- Chill the Glassware: Fill the coupe or Nick & Nora glass with ice water and set it aside to chill thoroughly for at least two minutes.
- Prepare the Lemon Juice: Juice one fresh lemon, measuring out exactly 0.75 oz (22.5 ml).
- Combine Ingredients: In the large half of your cocktail shaker, measure and pour the Bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Aperol, and fresh lemon juice. Maintain the strict equal-parts rule.
- Add Ice: Fill the shaker two-thirds full with fresh, high-quality ice cubes.
- Seal and Shake: Seal the shaker firmly. Shake vigorously (the hard shake method) for 15–20 seconds until the outside of the shaker is heavily frosted, ensuring maximum chill and proper dilution.
- Strain Preparation: Empty the ice water from your chilled glass. Prepare the double strain by placing the Hawthorne strainer over the shaker and a fine mesh strainer over the serving glass.
- Pour and Serve: Pour the contents of the shaker through both strainers into the chilled glass. This ensures a silky, clear texture free of ice shards or citrus pulp.
- Garnish (Optional): Serve the Paper Plane Cocktail immediately. A paper plane garnish is thematic but unnecessary.