A hip-hop icon. A lifelong bond. A shared passion for craft spirits. And a warehouse full of aged whiskey.

When these elements came together, they gave rise to Amber & Opal, a premium honey botanical rye whiskey that’s turning heads in the spirits industry.

Launched in 2024, Amber & Opal was co-founded by Ja Rule, Herb Rice, Sandy Sandiford, and Kelvin Barton. A rye whiskey blended with orange blossom honey and an elegant mix of botanicals, including cinnamon, fig, ginger, and black tea, the spirit was crafted to bridge worlds: approachable for newcomers, yet complex enough to intrigue seasoned whiskey enthusiasts.

At the buzzing Amber & Opal booth during the 2025 Bar Convent Brooklyn trade show in June, Ja, Herb, and Sandy shared insights into the brand’s origin story and the meaning behind its evocative name. They also discuss the intentional, measured way they’re leveraging Ja’s star power and why they are confident that the flavor-forward whiskey has the potential to redefine what modern spirits can be.

Show notes:

0:25: Ja Rule, Herb Rice & Sandy Sandiford, Co-Founders, Amber & Opal – Ray learns how Ja Rule signs checks before the musician and entrepreneur explains why Amber & Opal shouldn’t be labeled a “celebrity brand,” and why the founding team was advised against making a flavored whiskey. Herb talks about how product development was focused on flavor, accessibility and innovation, and how in a tequila-saturated market, it is strategically positioned to stand out. The team also discusses how the package and label design reflects an emphasis on inclusivity and storytelling before sharing a sample of the whiskey with Ray, who offers his take on its taste and potential appeal.

Brands in this episode: Amber & Opal, Jack Daniel’s

The 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show was a vibrant exhibition of everything we love about the food and beverage industry. From new concepts and inventive product launches to passionate entrepreneurs and irresistible bites and sips, the event was a sensory feast. The hosts spotlight ethnic brands, artisanal snacks and distinctive libations from one of the most exceptional trade shows they’ve ever experienced.

Show notes:

0:35: Milk Strips. Mail Us. Meet Us. Rapid Fire? Slow Burn. Good Things Are A Comin’ – Before the hosts heap praise on dozens of brands they encountered at the Summer Fancy Food Show, they remind listeners of where to send samples, and Ray recounts a visit to Clio Snacks’ manufacturing facility for a behind-the-scenes look at how their yogurt bars come to life. He also notes that registration is now open for Taste Radio meetups in Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and London. The hosts wrap up with a few reasons to stay optimistic about the CPG outlook for the rest of 2025.

Brands in this episode: Clio Snacks, Milkademia, Juicy Bites, Nikigo, Figa, Cadbury, Jack’s Dad’s Hummus, Zahav, Doosra, Krokka, Mazaah, Brooklyn Dehli, Podi, Ginny’s, Narra, Brooklyn Delhi, Baris, Onosweet, Sour Milk, Moment, Paro, Saffron Road, Pioola, Tannthi, Amaza, Lakarids, Bulow, Aaji, BTR Nation, Blue Bottle, Maia, La Rossi, Jala-Lujah, Yax Snacks, Podi, Nourrir, Taan Thai, Figa Foods, KefirKult, B.T.R. Nation, Keya's Snacks, Sourmilk, Aaji's, Tari, Theo's Longhouse Coffee, Lakrid's, Ines Rosales, Släcka, Djablo, Bake Me Healthy, Caulipuffs, Pi00a, Sourcery

In this special edition of the podcast, we feature highlights from interviews with eight founders, creators and innovators who joined us on the show during the first half of 2025. Our guests include Gail Becker, the founder of Caulipower; Bill Creelman and Dave Burwick, the founder and CEO, respectively of Spindrift; Emily Griffith, the founder and CEO of Lil Bucks; Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri, the co-founders of Sauz; Rosa Li, the founder and CEO of Wildwonder; and Todd Davis, the category manager for natural, local and multi-cultural foods at Kroger-owned King Soopers & City Market.

Show notes:

0:33: Interview: Gail Becker, Founder, Caulipower – Let’s kick things off with Gail Becker, the founder of the trailblazing frozen food brand Caulipower. In a clip pulled from an episode featured on March 25, Gail opens up about the guiding principles behind Caulipower’s product development and highlights how hard work, energy, and sometimes unawareness of challenges fueled the brand’s success.

6:33: Interview: Bill Creelman, Founder & Dave Burwick, CEO, Spindrift – Next, we have Bill Creelman and Dave Burwick, the founder and CEO, respectively of Spindrift, the beverage platform best known for its sparkling water made with real fruit juice and purees. In this clip, pulled from an episode published on April 8, Bill and Dave talk about how the brand upholds its integrity and solidifies its market position via a commitment to real ingredients and flavor innovation and also explore how ambition, when guided by intentionality, leads to real, sustainable growth.

12:24: Interview: Emily Griffith, Founder & CEO, Lil Bucks – Let’s keep it going with Emily Griffith, the founder and CEO of Lil Bucks, a modern snack brand that champions buckwheat as its hero ingredient. In this clip, from our episode published on February 18, Emily talks about why getting into Whole Foods was a full court press. She also emphasizes the importance of knowing your brand and processes inside and out when fundraising and why she wasn’t just selling her brand and vision, she was selling herself as a founder.

19:30: Interview: Troy Bonde & Winston Alfieri, Co-Founders, Sauz – We continue with Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri, the co-founders of Sauz, a bold, culture-forward pasta sauce brand. In this clip, pulled from an episode aired on April 22, Troy and Winston reveal how they convinced skeptical retail buyers that Sauz could deliver true incremental value and how saying “I don’t know” has opened doors in unexpected ways.

25:16: Interview: Rosa Li, Founder & CEO, Wildwonder – Next up is Rosa Li, the founder and CEO of Wildwonder, a fast-growing brand of sparkling beverages that are infused with prebiotics and probiotics. In this clip, from our episode published on March 18, Rosa talks about how its pricing and retail strategy are interwoven, how she met buyers from major retail chains and how listening to consumers has guided Wildwonder’s innovation and marketing efforts.

32:33: Interview: Todd Davis, Category Manager – Natural Foods/Local/Multi-Cultural, King Soopers/City Market – Finally, we hear from Todd Davis, the category manager for natural/local and multi-cultural foods at Kroger-owned King Soopers & City Market stores. In the following clip, pulled from an episode published on April 29, Todd talks about how he evaluates emerging trends and new brands, the value of transparency, “HOT” conversations, and emotional detachment when making buyer decisions.

Brands in this episode: Caulipower, Spindrift, Lil Bucks, Sauz, Wildwonder