Sparkling spritz cocktail with orange slice
Photo: Shutter Shoalwater / AI Generated

The Story

So there I was, July 2022, and one of my regulars walks in. Sarah. She and her husband had been coming to the island for years, always sat at my bar, always ordered something interesting. I looked forward to seeing them.

This time, she sat down and immediately looked sad. Not upset, just... deflated.

"I'm pregnant," she said.

"Congratulations?" I tried.

"Thank you. I'm thrilled. I'm also not drinking for the next six months, and I'm on Nantucket for two weeks, and everyone is having cocktails while I drink water like a houseplant."

Her husband looked at me. "Is there anything you can make her that's... not embarrassing? Something that feels like she's part of the experience?"

Now, I could have made her a mocktail. Fruit juice, soda, maybe some herbs. The standard "I can't drink" offering. But Sarah didn't want to be reminded she wasn't drinking. She wanted to feel included.

I thought about it. Low-proof, not no-proof. Something she could sip on all afternoon without worrying. Something that looked like a real cocktail because it was a real cocktail—just a gentle one.

I grabbed the Nantucket Vineyard Grey Lady. Added a splash of Aperol—bitter and beautiful but only 11% ABV. Topped with soda. Threw in some fresh grapefruit. Served it in a wine glass with a big ice cube.

"The Sankaty Light," I said. "Named after the lighthouse. Because it keeps you from crashing into the rocks."

She took a sip. Then another. Then she smiled—really smiled, for the first time since she sat down.

"This is perfect," she said. "I feel like a person again."

She ordered three more that week. Her husband ordered one because he was jealous. By the end of their vacation, I was making Sankaty Lights for half the bar.

The Recipe

Glass Wine Glass
Prep Time 2 min
Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • Nantucket Vineyard Grey Lady wine 3 oz
  • Aperol 1 oz
  • Fresh grapefruit juice 1/2 oz
  • Club soda 2 oz
  • Grapefruit wedge for garnish
  • Fresh rosemary sprig optional

Instructions

  1. Add ice to glass. One large cube or several smaller ones. Either works.
  2. Build in the glass. Pour the wine, then the Aperol, then the grapefruit juice directly over the ice.
  3. Top with soda. Gently pour the club soda down the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles.
  4. Stir once. Just once. You're integrating, not mixing a smoothie.
  5. Garnish. Grapefruit wedge on the rim. Rosemary sprig if you're feeling fancy—slap it against your palm first to release the oils.
  6. Sip slowly. This drink is designed for the long haul. No need to rush.

Porter's Notes

The Aperol is key. It adds complexity and that gorgeous orange color without adding serious alcohol. At 11% ABV, it barely moves the needle—this whole drink clocks in around 8-10% alcohol by volume, which is lighter than most glasses of wine.

The rosemary is optional but recommended. It adds an herbal note that makes the drink feel more "composed" and less like a casual spritzer. Plus it smells incredible.

You can absolutely make this with other dry white wines if you can't get Grey Lady. But the Nantucket connection is half the story.

The Cisco Connection

Nantucket Vineyard Grey Lady is perfect for low-proof cocktails because it's dry and acidic without being aggressive. It plays well with the bitter-sweet Aperol and doesn't get lost under the soda and citrus.

The wine is doing the heavy lifting here—providing body and structure—while the Aperol adds color and that signature bittersweet edge. Together, they create something that feels complete even without a heavy spirit base.

Serve This When...

  • You want to pace yourself through a long afternoon
  • It's hot and you need something refreshing but want more than water
  • Someone is pregnant, driving, or just not in the mood for a strong drink
  • You're day drinking and need to remain functional
  • Your houseguests are staying a while and you want to be hospitable but not horizontal

The Honest Truth

This drink is for people who want to participate without overdoing it. There's no shame in that. In fact, I've started to think it's smarter than the alternative—why drink three strong cocktails when you could have five Sankaty Lights and still remember the sunset?

The name works on two levels. Sankaty Head Light is the lighthouse on the east end of the island—a beacon that keeps boats safe. And the drink is "light"—low-proof, easy, sessionable. Double meanings are free.