Paper Plane

The Paper Plane, created in Chicago in 2008, has been described as a modern classic, and I won't argue. It's like a whiskey sour with more going on. The proper recipe asks for equal parts of four ingredients: bourbon (I recommend choosing something 100 proof or higher), Amaro Nonino* (an Italian bittersweet liqueur), Aperol, and lemon juice. I prefer it a touch less bitter and citrussy so my amended version dials down the Aperol and lemon.

Paper Plane

0.75 oz bourbon

0.75 oz Amaro Nonino

0.5 oz Aperol

0.5 oz lemon juice

Shake ingredients furiously with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

*Amaro Nonino is made from herbs, spices, fruit, berries and roots enriched with a grape distillate, and aged more than 12 months in casks.

Fino Martini

 

A new twist on the gin martini involves ditching the dry vermouth and replacing it with fino sherry, giving the drink a savory, almondy, almost saline character. I found the following recipe in an issue of Bon Appétit.

Fino Martini

2 oz gin (Plymouth works great)

0.75 oz fino sherry

Dash of orange bitters

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with olives.

Summer Nights

Following my recent adventures with Jack Daniels, I tried out their recipe for what is effectively a whiskey sour and decided it was worth sharing. I didn't have any of their Tennessee Honey flavored whiskey to hand (and never will) so upped the amount of Old No. 7, which worked just fine.

Summer Nights

1.5 oz Jack Daniels Old No. 7
0.5 oz orange liqueur
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

I took the further liberty of adding a few dashes of Fee Brothers Fee Foam for texture and aesthetics.