Amber & Opal Takes Over The Ivory On Park With Ja Rule
New York nightlife, Black entrepreneurship, and whiskey culture came together for an evening at The Ivory On Park, as Black-owned whiskey brand Amber & Opal took over the venue for a special celebration featuring Ja Rule as celebrity guest bartender.
Held on Thursday, August 6, the Amber & Opal Bar Takeover brought guests together for an evening centered around music, cocktails, community, and two Black-owned businesses. The event was produced by ALPHA, hosted by PanamaDaPrince, with music provided by DJ Drew.
The night also marked a major personal milestone for Amber & Opal co-founder Herb Rice, who celebrated his 50th birthday surrounded by friends, supporters, and members of New York’s creative and entrepreneurial communities.
Ja Rule Steps Behind the Bar
Adding some star power to the evening, Grammy-nominated rapper and entrepreneur Ja Rule traded the stage for the bar as the night’s celebrity guest bartender.
The appearance brought an interactive element to the takeover, allowing guests to experience Amber & Opal whiskey in a setting built around celebration rather than a traditional tasting. Known for hits that helped define an era of early-2000s hip-hop and R&B, Ja Rule’s presence complemented an evening that blended New York culture, entertainment, and entrepreneurship under one roof.
Celebrating Black-Owned Business
At the heart of the takeover was a collaboration between a Black-owned whiskey brand and Black-owned venue.
Amber & Opal has positioned itself within the spirits space as a brand built around craftsmanship, culture, and creating memorable experiences. Bringing the whiskey to The Ivory On Park provided an opportunity to introduce the brand to guests through cocktails and an immersive nightlife experience.
The Ivory On Park, owned by Tola Osinuga, provided the backdrop for the celebration. The partnership underscored the significance of Black entrepreneurs working across industries,from hospitality and nightlife to spirits and entertainment,to create spaces and experiences of their own.
Rather than simply serving as the location, The Ivory On Park became part of the story of the evening.
A Milestone for Amber & Opal Co-Founder Herb Rice
The takeover carried additional significance as Amber & Opal co-founder Herb Rice celebrated his 50th birthday.
Combining Rice’s milestone with a showcase of the whiskey brand made the evening both a personal celebration and a reflection of the community surrounding Amber & Opal.
With PanamaDaPrince guiding the evening as host and DJ Drew setting the soundtrack, the atmosphere shifted seamlessly between a birthday celebration, brand experience, and New York night out.
Whiskey, Culture and Community
The Amber & Opal takeover demonstrated how modern spirits brands are moving beyond conventional tastings to create experiences that connect their products with culture.
With Ja Rule behind the bar, ALPHA producing the experience, PanamaDaPrince hosting, DJ Drew on music, and Herb Rice’s milestone birthday at the center of the celebration, the night brought together multiple corners of New York’s cultural scene.
More importantly, the collaboration between Amber & Opal and The Ivory On Park placed Black ownership and entrepreneurship front and center.
For one night, whiskey, hospitality, hip-hop, and celebration converged at The Ivory On Park,and Amber & Opal made sure there was plenty to raise a glass to.
Photo Credit : Yung SSFE / Kyran John