In an industry long defined by legacy brands and generational distilleries, Amber & Opal – a Maryland Rye Honey Whiskey – arrives with intention. Founded in 2024 by four friends turned entrepreneurs – music icon Ja Rule, Herb Rice, Sandy Sandiford, and Kelvin Barton – the brand is more than a premium spirit. It is a declaration of ownership, heritage, and cultural expansion in the spirits industry.
For decades, the spirits industry has quietly benefited from Black influence – on taste, on trend, on culture – without always reflecting that influence at the ownership level. Amber & Opal disrupts that narrative. With a distinctive rye base softened by all-natural honey, the whiskey delivers a profile that is both bold and refined – smooth enough to sip neat, complex enough to anchor a crafted cocktail. It feels intentional. Layered. Earned. “Amber & Opal’s flavor profile was always intentional,” shares co-founder Herb Rice. “We’re all first-generation in the spirit space. We’re not just launching a brand – we’re building a legacy. We want to create something people are proud to pour today and still proud to see on shelves fifty years from now. And that only happens through authenticity.”
Rice continues, “Our foundation is a 75% rye, 25% malted rye blend, infused with orange blossom honey and two botanicals that introduce subtle notes of fig and cinnamon, finishing with a delicate black tea essence. The result is something truly distinctive. We were deliberate about crafting a nuanced spirit – one that invites a non-traditional whiskey audience into the space. It was about creating something different, something elevated, and ultimately helping the space look a little different too. That’s how you build a new legacy.”
Amber & Opal Honey Botanical Whiskey
The choice of a Maryland rye foundation is significant. Rye whiskey carries a spicier, more assertive character than its bourbon counterpart – historically American, deeply rooted, and unafraid of presence. The infusion of natural honey introduces warmth and balance, symbolizing harmony between strength and sweetness. “We didn’t set out to create a whiskey solely for Black consumers,” explains co-founder Kelvin Barton. “Our mission was always broader – to welcome people with all kinds of taste preferences into the Amber & Opal experience. We want everyone to feel invited to discover it.”
He adds, “The response has been overwhelmingly positive. From tequila drinkers to women who may not traditionally gravitate toward whiskey, the feedback has been consistent: ‘You all have something special here.’ That’s when you know you’ve created something that transcends category – it connects.”
American Rapper, Singer, and Actor – Ja Rule
For Ja Rule, whose career has spanned platinum albums, sold-out arenas, and decades of cultural relevance, the move into spirits reflects a larger evolution. Today’s moguls understand that true legacy is built through equity. Ownership matters. Distribution matters. Seat-at-the-table economics matter. “For me, it’s about accountability – to each other as four brothers and building something that commands respect,” shares Ja Rule. “We wanted to create a brand our communities can genuinely be proud of. That’s not always easy, especially in the spirits industry, which isn’t always viewed in the most positive light.”
He continues, “But I’m proud that we created a natural product – as clean and intentional as a spirit can be -something we can confidently stand behind and our families can feel proud of. That matters. Ownership matters. And what we build for Black culture matters even more.”
Amber & Opal joins a powerful lineage of Black excellence reshaping the liquor industry. One cannot speak about modern Black ownership in whiskey without acknowledging Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the award-winning brand honoring Nearest Green, the first known African-American master distiller who taught Jack Daniel’s founder Jack Daniel the craft. For generations, Green’s contribution remained largely unrecognized – an omission that symbolized a broader erasure within American history.
Today, that narrative is being corrected.
Amber & Opal
Amber & Opal adds to this reclamation – not through replication, but through innovation. Where Uncle Nearest revives history, Amber & Opal pushes culture forward. It speaks to a generation fluent in hip-hop, entrepreneurship, and generational wealth. It embodies celebration without apology.
There is also something profound about four Black men coming together in partnership. Not as competitors. Not as individual brands. But as collaborators. In a cultural moment often framed by division, their unity represents power multiplied. Each founder brings a distinct professional lens – entertainment, business acumen, strategic investment – creating a brand ecosystem designed for longevity. “Our desire wasn’t to start a whiskey brand,” shares Herb. “We started with an investment idea – a whiskey warehouse with aging barrels. The plan was to age them for a few years and then sell them. However, something incredible happened – the opportunity to create a niche within the whiskey space.”
