Paper Plane

Name: Paper Plane (Non‑Alcoholic)
Ingredients: 1 oz The Spirit of Bourbon; 1 oz The Spirit of Aperitivo Milano; 1 oz The Spirit of Vermouth Rosso; ½ oz fresh lemon juice; ½ oz fresh orange juice; 3 dashes aromatic bitters, optional; 3 dashes orange bitters, optional; Orange peel, for garnish

The Paper Plane is a modern classic built on bourbon, bitter aperitivo, amaro, and citrus. Our version takes a different route to the same destination.

The Spirit of Bourbon provides the oak and spice, while The Spirit of Aperitivo Milano brings bright citrus and bitterness. The Spirit of Vermouth Rosso stands in for the traditional amaro, adding the herbal complexity and richness the drink needs. Lemon keeps the cocktail sharp, while a small measure of orange juice rounds out the citrus.

It isn't a literal recreation of the original spec. It is our take on the balance that makes a Paper Plane work: bourbon, citrus, bitterness, sweetness, and layers of botanicals.

Paper Plane (Non‑Alcoholic)

The Free Spirits Innovation Lab

Ingredients

1 oz The Spirit of Bourbon
1 oz The Spirit of Aperitivo Milano
1 oz The Spirit of Vermouth Rosso
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz fresh orange juice
3 dashes aromatic bitters, optional
3 dashes orange bitters, optional
Orange peel, for garnish

Method

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake until well chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe.
Express an orange peel over the cocktail and garnish.

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Why This Works

A Paper Plane depends on tension between bourbon, citrus, sweetness, bitterness, and herbal complexity.

The Spirit of Bourbon gives this version its foundation of oak, vanilla, and spice. The Spirit of Aperitivo Milano supplies the bright, bittersweet citrus character, while The Spirit of Vermouth Rosso brings darker fruit and botanicals into the middle of the drink. Lemon provides the sharper acidity, with orange juice adding softer citrus and a little extra body.

The ingredients may take a different route than the original, but they arrive at the flavor profile that makes the Paper Plane distinctive: bright, bittersweet, citrus-driven, and unmistakably bourbon-forward.

About Free Spirits

The Spirit of Bourbon

The Spirit of Bourbon mirrors the complexity and structure of classic Kentucky bourbon, crafted with real American oak and natural extracts to deliver warm spice, vanilla, and char with a sweetness an aged bourbon is known for.

It brings the heft bourbon cocktails demand: enough body to stand up to bitters, the precision stirred drinks require, and the balance to carry citrus in Sours and Gold Rushes. It holds its ground alongside bold ingredients like ginger, honey, and aromatic bitters, and delivers consistent backbone in Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Boulevardiers, and any cocktail calling for whiskey with character and restraint.

A Modern Classic from Chicago

Bartender Sam Ross created the Paper Plane in 2008 for The Violet Hour in Chicago, taking inspiration from the equal-parts structure of the Last Word. The established recipe combines equal measures of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice. Ross initially used Campari before changing the recipe to Aperol, which provided a gentler bitterness.

Despite its relatively recent origin, that combination of bourbon, bitter orange, herbal amaro, and citrus quickly established the Paper Plane as a modern cocktail standard.

Zero-Proof Cocktail Basics

What is a zero-proof cocktail?

A zero-proof cocktail is a fully built drink that follows the same principles as any classic: acid, sweetness, aromatics, dilution, and a defined base spirit. The difference is the base is non-alcoholic. When that spirit has enough structure and character, like the ones we make, you get a cocktail that drinks like a cocktail, not a compromise.

How do non-alcoholic spirits work in classic cocktail recipes?

Non-alcoholic spirits step into the role of the base spirit. They carry citrus, sugar, bitters, and dilution the same way their alcoholic counterparts do. Some recipes need small ratio adjustments, but the technique stays the same: build the drink, balance the elements, and let the base spirit define the profile.

Do zero-proof cocktails taste like the originals?

They taste like cocktails: recognizable, structured, and intentional. The goal isn't imitation; it's integrity. When the build is balanced and the spirit has presence, you get the character of the drink without relying on alcohol to do the work.

Can zero-proof cocktails have real complexity?

Yes. Complexity comes from design, not ethanol. A well-built zero-proof cocktail shows layers: aromatics, texture, finish. The craft sits in the composition, not the ABV. The right non-alcoholic spirit brings the structure; the ingredients do the rest.

What is the difference between zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

Zero-proof cocktails contain no alcohol. Low-proof cocktails blend traditional spirits with non-alcoholic spirits to dial down the ABV while keeping the drink's identity intact. It's the easiest way to keep the ritual, cut the intensity, and stay in full control of the experience.

Why does Free Spirits work so well in both zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

The Spirit of Bourbon is built with oak-forward depth and enough body to hold bitters and sweetness in balance. Whether you use it as the sole base or split it with traditional bourbon, it behaves like a true cocktail foundation, keeping the drink structured, complex, and true to form.