Creature Comforts launches Sapelo Aperitivo with Sapelo Island heritage citrus

Creature Comforts Brewing Company has introduced Sapelo Aperitivo, a spritz-ready citrus liqueur developed with a Sapelo Island nonprofit to help build demand for the rare Sapelo Sour Orange. The release ties a new spirits offering to heritage preservation, community-led agriculture and long-term economic opportunity on the Georgia coast. Why it matters: - Sapelo Aperitivo is designed to create a commercial market for a nearly lost heritage citrus while supporting cultural preservation on Sapelo Island. - The project links a new beverage launch to long-term agricultural development and local economic opportunity for the Saltwater Geechee community. - Creature Comforts is using the release to expand its spirits business beyond beer and into more drinking occasions. What happened: - Creature Comforts Brewing Company introduced Sapelo Aperitivo, a bright, citrus-forward aperitivo developed with Save Our Legacy Ourself, a Saltwater Geechee-led nonprofit. - The liqueur is available now statewide in 750 mL bottles. - The release was announced June 17, 2026, in Athens, Georgia. The details: - Sapelo Aperitivo is 11% ABV. - The drink is built for spritzes, cocktails or simple serves over ice. - The flavor profile includes bright citrus notes, including notes derived in part from Sapelo Sour Oranges, plus traditional bittersweet complexity. - Sapelo Sour Orange traces back to bittersweet Seville oranges brought to Sapelo by the Spanish in the 1600s. - Only a handful of wild Sapelo Sour Orange trees remain on the island. - Creature Comforts and SOLO plan to use sales to support the first commercial orchard and supply chain for Sapelo Sour Oranges. - SOLO is working to establish a community-led orchard, expand agricultural development and create new economic opportunities tied to the island’s citrus. - Creature Comforts is helping secure land for the orchard and set up a profit-share to help cover operating costs and support SOLO’s mission. - The broader Creature Comforts spirits lineup includes Sun Glow vodka seltzer, Winning Colors Bourbon, London Dry Gin, Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Coffee Liqueur. - Sun Glow is made with seven-times-distilled American vodka, real fruit juice and no added sugar, and comes in Cherry Lime, Peach, Citrus and Tropical. - Winning Colors Bourbon earned Gold at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Between the lines: - The launch shows how beverage companies are pairing product innovation with place-based storytelling and social impact. - Creature Comforts is positioning heritage sourcing as a growth strategy, not just a marketing angle. - The company is also signaling a broader shift from being known mainly for beer to building a wider beverage portfolio. What’s next: - SOLO and Creature Comforts will continue building the orchard and supply chain for Sapelo Sour Oranges. - Additional spirits products are in development as Creature Comforts keeps expanding beyond beer. - The company says the Sapelo project is meant to endure by connecting preservation with economic opportunity. The bottom line: - Sapelo Aperitivo turns a heritage citrus preservation effort into a new commercial beverage, aiming to support both sales growth and cultural continuity.