The Best Bourbons for a Paper Plane

Why Bourbon Choice Makes or Breaks a Paper Plane

The Paper Plane was created in 2008 by bartender Sam Ross at Chicago's Violet Hour, built on a deceptively simple equal-parts formula: bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice. In 2020 it was added to the International Bartenders Association's official cocktail list, cementing its status as a modern classic. Because every ingredient carries equal weight, the bourbon you choose is not a background player — it has to hold its ground against the bitter orange of Aperol, the herbal complexity of Amaro Nonino, and the bright acidity of fresh lemon. Ross himself has suggested reaching for a bourbon in the 43–50% ABV range so the whiskey adds body without being swamped by the other components. The bottles in this gallery all pass that test, whether you want a fruit-forward sipper, a high-rye spice bomb, or a rich wheated pour.

Buffalo Trace: The Bartender's Default

Buffalo Trace is widely cited as the bourbon Sam Ross used when he first developed the Paper Plane, and its 45% ABV sits right in the sweet spot the cocktail demands. Its mashbill leans on rye as the secondary grain, producing a profile of caramel, vanilla, toffee, and a gentle spice finish that integrates cleanly with Aperol's bittersweet orange and Amaro Nonino's herbal depth. The distillery's roots trace back to the late 1700s, making it one of the oldest continuously operating sites in American whiskey. At roughly $38 a bottle it is one of the best values in bourbon, which also makes it an easy choice when shaking up a round of Paper Planes for company. If there is a single default answer to the question of which bourbon to reach for, this is it. Buy it now!

Wild Turkey 101: The High-Proof Backbone

Wild Turkey 101 earns its name from its 50.5% ABV, which gives it exactly the structural punch that cocktail experts recommend for a Paper Plane. At this proof, the bourbon maintains aromatic presence even after vigorous shaking and dilution from ice, pushing caramel, vanilla, peppery rye spice, and toasted oak through the amaro and citrus without fading into the background. Wild Turkey uses a deeper Number 4 alligator char on its barrels, which contributes to a heavier, more viscous mouthfeel and a longer, spice-driven finish than many bourbons at the same price. Difford's Guide community members have specifically called out a 50/50 blend of Wild Turkey 101 and Wild Turkey 81 as producing an especially well-balanced Paper Plane. At well under $30, it is one of the most cost-effective ways to build a genuinely spirit-forward version of the drink. Buy it now!

Four Roses Small Batch: Fruit-Forward Elegance

Four Roses Small Batch blends four of the distillery's ten distinct bourbon recipes, bottled at 90 proof, and the result is a floral, fruit-driven bourbon with notes of marmalade, honey, cinnamon, and oak. That fruit-forward character is particularly well-suited to the Paper Plane because it echoes and amplifies the citrus notes from the lemon juice while the honey sweetness cushions the bitterness of Amaro Nonino. Four Roses' brand ambassadors have specifically highlighted the Paper Plane as a showcase cocktail for the bourbon, appreciating how its balanced profile neither overpowers the amaro nor disappears behind it. The distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky operates out of a distinctive Spanish mission-style building and has been producing bourbon under the Four Roses name since 1888. For drinkers who want a softer, more floral Paper Plane, Small Batch is one of the most reliable choices on the shelf. Buy it now!

Maker's Mark 46: Oak-Finished Sweetness

Maker's Mark 46 takes the distillery's wheated mashbill — 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley — and finishes the aged bourbon with seared French oak staves, adding deeper vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak complexity beyond the standard expression. The wheat secondary grain gives it a notably softer and sweeter character than rye-led bourbons, which in a Paper Plane creates a rounder, less aggressive finish that lets the Aperol's citrus brightness take the lead. Reviewers have noted that the oak-finishing process makes Maker's 46 surprisingly toasty and almost spice-forward for a wheated bourbon, which keeps it lively in a cocktail context rather than melting entirely into the background. It sits at 47% ABV, clearing the threshold where the bourbon still registers meaningfully against the other equal-parts ingredients. Maker's Mark recommends a lemon zest garnish with this combination, which pulls the citrus arc of the cocktail into sharper focus. Buy it now!

Woodford Reserve: The Premium All-Rounder

Woodford Reserve is produced at one of Kentucky's most historic distillery sites — the former Old Oscar Pepper Distillery in Woodford County — using a combination of copper pot still and column still spirits, a method that contributes to its notably complex and layered profile. Bottled at 90.4 proof, it delivers rich dried fruit, baking spice, vanilla, and a luxurious sweetness that cocktail writers consistently rank among the best options for a Paper Plane. Its high-rye mash bill (around 18% rye) adds enough spice structure to keep the cocktail from leaning too sweet, while the fruit-forward character integrates beautifully with the herbal depth of Amaro Nonino. It's one of the go-to bourbons cited by home bartenders and writers such as Love and Lemons, which specifically names Woodford Reserve as one of its preferred bottles for the recipe. The premium price point — around $39 — is justified by the depth it adds to what is an already elegant cocktail. Buy it now!

Bulleit Bourbon: High-Rye Spice

Bulleit Bourbon carries one of the highest rye contents of any mainstream bourbon on the market — approximately 28% — which produces a notably drier, spicier profile of classic baking spices, pepper, and a clean, crisp finish. In a Paper Plane, that spice backbone provides excellent counterpoint to the sweet citrus of the Aperol and the lush herbal sweetness of Amaro Nonino, giving the finished drink more of a dry, sophisticated edge. Bulleit is bottled at 90 proof, which is slightly lower than the 101-proof bourbons on this list, but the assertive rye flavor more than compensates for the reduced ABV when it comes to presence in the shaker. It's also widely noted for its lighter body and clean finish, meaning the cocktail stays bright and refreshing rather than heavy — a quality that makes it one of the better choices for warm-weather Paper Planes. Its frontier-style bottle and broad availability make it one of the easiest high-rye options to find at any bar or bottle shop. Buy it now!

Knob Creek 9 Year: Bold and Barrel-Rich

Knob Creek Small Batch 9 Year is aged for nine years and bottled at 100 proof, making it one of the more robust options available for a Paper Plane and one that firmly pushes the bourbon's character to the forefront of the glass. The extended barrel time layers in deep caramel, dark fruit, charred oak, and a pronounced vanilla sweetness that doesn't shy away from the herbal bitterness of Amaro Nonino — it stands up to it. Jim Beam's small batch collection has positioned Knob Creek as its flagship full-flavored bourbon, and the 9-year expression in particular is frequently praised for delivering a complex, barrel-intensive experience at a price that undercuts many premium competitors. At 100 proof, drinkers who like their cocktails to taste decisively of bourbon will find this delivers exactly that without oversharing tannin or astringency. It's a heavier pour that works best for those who want the whiskey to lead the Paper Plane rather than sit in balance with the other components. Buy it now!

Elijah Craig Small Batch: The Craft-Value Champion

Elijah Craig Small Batch from Heaven Hill Distillery is bottled at 94 proof and aged for a minimum of eight years, producing a bourbon with enough body and barrel influence to sit comfortably in a Paper Plane without inflating the budget. Its tasting profile runs through rich caramel, dark fruit, toasted oak, and a warm vanilla core that complements both the orange bitterness of Aperol and the grappa-based sweetness of Amaro Nonino Quintessentia. Heaven Hill is one of the largest family-owned distilleries in the United States, and Elijah Craig remains its prestige small-batch expression, named for the Baptist minister credited in legend as an early innovator of charred-barrel aging. Consistently scoring among the top-rated bourbons in comparative tastings, it delivers a complexity usually associated with bottles at a significantly higher price. For cocktail enthusiasts building a home bar with a focus on quality, Elijah Craig Small Batch offers arguably the most versatile and impressive Paper Plane foundation under $35. Buy it now!

Russell's Reserve 10 Year: The Craft Distiller's Pick

Russell's Reserve 10 Year is the signature expression from master distiller Eddie Russell and his father Jimmy Russell, the legendary Wild Turkey whiskey dynasty that spans over seven decades of bourbon production. Bottled at 90 proof after a decade in the barrel, it delivers the hallmark Wild Turkey flavor DNA — caramel, honey, baking spice, and dried fruit — but with added refinement and smoothness that makes it as enjoyable sipped neat as it is shaken into a cocktail. Where Wild Turkey 101 pushes the bourbon hard to the front of a Paper Plane, Russell's Reserve 10 Year creates a more composed, elegant drink in which the honeyed and fruity notes interplay gracefully with Aperol's bittersweet orange character. Whisky Advocate scores it highly as a craft small-batch expression that over-delivers at its price point, making it a worthy step up from its 101 sibling for drinkers who want a more considered pour. It's a particularly compelling choice for those who appreciate the Wild Turkey house style but want a little more nuance in the glass. Buy it now!

Old Forester 100 Proof: Bottled-in-Bond Brightness

Old Forester 100 Proof is a bottled-in-bond bourbon from Brown-Forman, meaning it must be aged for at least four years, produced at a single distillery in a single season, and bottled at exactly 100 proof — standards that guarantee a level of quality and consistency that makes it excellent value at around $25. Its flavor profile centers on fresh-baked bread, dark cherry, vanilla, and a lively citrus note on the nose that makes it a natural companion for the lemon juice in a Paper Plane. The higher rye content in the Old Forester mash bill — approximately 18% — gives it a clean spice backbone that prevents the cocktail from going too soft, while the 50% ABV ensures the bourbon doesn't fade beneath the amaro. Brown-Forman, which also produces Woodford Reserve, has been distilling Old Forester continuously since 1870, making it the oldest bottled bourbon brand in American history. For anyone looking for an affordable high-proof option that punches well above its price in a Paper Plane, Old Forester 100 Proof is one of the most underrated choices on this list. Buy it now!

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