Creature Comforts Launches Sapelo Aperitivo With Sapelo Island Ties

Athens brewery Creature Comforts Brewing Co. has introduced Sapelo, an aperitivo developed with the nonprofit Save Our Legacy Ourself (SOLO).

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Beer

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a dark-amber bottle beside three sour oranges on a wooden plank, with soft marsh grasses behind. — Athens brewery Creature Comforts launched Sapelo, an Italian-style aperitivo flavored with Sapelo Sour oranges, developed with the nonprofit SOLO to support Saltwater Geechee heritage. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Creature Comforts Brewing Co., based in Athens, Georgia, has introduced Sapelo, an Italian-inspired aperitivo flavored with the Sapelo Sour orange. The spirit was developed in partnership with SOLO, a nonprofit established in 2021 and led by Maurice Bailey.

Why it matters

The collaboration links commercial beverage sales to efforts to restore a crop tied to the history of the Saltwater Geechee community on Georgia's coast. The initiative supports preservation of that community's agricultural heritage and cultural identity.

Sapelo is a coral-colored spirit in a blue-and-white bottle that can be served with Prosecco, soda water, or an orange slice. A portion of sales from every bottle goes toward community-led agricultural restoration, though the exact share was not disclosed.

The players

Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

An Athens, Georgia brewery that developed Sapelo and is part of the state's craft beer scene.

Save Our Legacy Ourself (SOLO)

A nonprofit established in 2021 that works to preserve the agricultural heritage of the Saltwater Geechee community.

Maurice Bailey

The leader of SOLO and son of the late Cornelia Walker Bailey, a noted champion of Gullah Geechee heritage.

The details

Sapelo is packaged in a blue-and-white bottle and draws its citrus flavor from the Sapelo Sour orange, a fruit brought to Sapelo Island from Spain in the 1600s. The spirit was developed with SOLO, which is led by Maurice Bailey, son of the late Cornelia Walker Bailey.

- 1600s: Sapelo Sour orange introduced to Sapelo Island from Spain.
- 2021: SOLO nonprofit established.
- November 9, 2026: Sapelo partnership publicly reported.

Culture Shift

The Sapelo Sour orange, introduced from Spain in the 1600s, is now the flavor base for a modern spirit tied to the Saltwater Geechee community's preservation efforts. The product reflects a growing pattern of consumer brands channeling sales toward the recovery of regional food traditions.

Georgia drinkers can seek out Sapelo as an alternative to standard aperitifs, and a portion of each purchase supports restoration work. The spirit can be mixed with Prosecco, soda water, or served with an orange slice.

The takeaway

Buying a bottle of Sapelo is one simple way to support the preservation of a regional agricultural tradition while enjoying a citrus-forward aperitivo at home.