Onyx & Amber launches Commodore’s Cut whiskey collaboration with retired Navy Captain Don Williamson

By AI, Created 10:17 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Onyx & Amber unveiled Commodore’s Cut, a limited whiskey collaboration with retired Navy Captain Don “Willie” Williamson, on May 5, 2026 in Denver. The first release arrives May 11 and pairs single-barrel bourbon with donations that support military, first responder and EMS organizations.

Why it matters: - Commodore’s Cut ties a premium whiskey release to service-oriented giving, with a portion of every sale directed to organizations that support military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and emergency medical services. - The collaboration also deepens Onyx & Amber’s identity as a barrel-selection brand that links scarcity, craftsmanship and charitable impact.

What happened: - Onyx & Amber announced Commodore’s Cut, a new whiskey collaboration with retired Navy Captain Don “Willie” Williamson, on May 5, 2026. - The launch is centered in Denver, where Williamson personally selected limited single-barrel expressions from Onyx & Amber’s sourced inventory. - The first release, Commodore’s Cut No. 1, goes on sale May 11, 2026. - The timing of the first drop aligns with the Naval Helicopter Association Annual Symposium. - The collaboration will include four planned releases in 2026.

The details: - Commodore’s Cut No. 1 is an 11-plus-year single-barrel bourbon sourced from Indiana. - The bottle is 109.9 proof. - The whiskey came from a Canton Cooperage barrel that was air-dried for 24 months. - Onyx & Amber says that drying process contributes to a richer, sweeter character. - Other barrels were considered before the first cut was chosen, but were set aside because they had not yet reached the standard Williamson wanted. - Each Commodore’s Cut release is a one-time event, and the barrel behind it will never be recreated. - The brand’s website for more information is commodorescut.com.

Between the lines: - The partnership is built around a shared message about standards: waiting for the right barrel is treated as a parallel to holding firm under pressure in service. - Onyx & Amber founder Benjamin Rosen said the collaboration reflects a philosophy of patience, transparency and not releasing anything before it is ready. - Rosen said he spent a decade conducting more than 150 single-barrel selections and raised more than $500,000 for charity before founding Onyx & Amber. - Williamson said buyers are trusting the brand before tasting the whiskey, and that the bottle should honor the same trust extended by people in uniform and first responders. - Williamson served 26 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Navy Captain with the honorary title of Commodore earned through his final command. - His service included flying helicopters, commanding a squadron and serving as executive officer of an amphibious assault ship during the Second Battle of Fallujah in 2005. - After the Navy, Williamson spent more than a decade in industry leadership before stepping away to care for his aging parents full-time. - Williamson still chairs his county’s Veterans Advisory Board and EMS Board. - Williamson said a Friday evening tradition with his father, a 22-year Air Force veteran, shaped his understanding of leadership.

What’s next: - Onyx & Amber plans three more Commodore’s Cut releases in 2026. - Each release is expected to land on a date tied to the service community the collaboration aims to support. - Onyx & Amber also says the brand continues to offer appointment-only Kentucky experiences in Louisville.

The bottom line: - Commodore’s Cut is as much a tribute project as a whiskey launch: a limited release model that uses scarcity, service and philanthropy as part of the product story.