Chris Hemsworth Becomes a Co-Owner of Archie Rose Distilling

Actor Chris Hemsworth has become a co-owner of Archie Rose Distilling Co., the independent Sydney spirits producer said Thursday, in a move that comes as the company prepares to launch its whisky in the United States and widen its international reach.

The Australian distillery said Hemsworth will join founder Will Edwards in the business as it pushes beyond its home market. The company, founded in 2014, is best known for whisky and gin made in Sydney with Australian-grown ingredients. Its expansion plan includes a first U.S. market entry this fall and a broader push into overseas markets in the coming year.

Hemsworth, who lives in Byron Bay in New South Wales, said he had followed the brand for years and was drawn to its focus on local raw materials. In a statement released by the company, he said the taste of Archie Rose whisky reminded him of Australia and of time spent outdoors with friends. He also pointed to the distillery’s use of Australian-grown malts as a reason for joining the business.

The company said Hemsworth has also worked with Archie Rose on three new whiskies. Those products are scheduled to debut first in Asia and New Zealand in late 2026, before expanding into the United Kingdom and the European Union in 2027. Archie Rose described the releases as part of a new stage in its effort to raise the profile of Australian whisky abroad.

The announcement links celebrity backing with a concrete commercial step for the distiller. Archie Rose said its whisky portfolio will become available in the United States for the first time this fall. To support that rollout, the company has signed distribution agreements with Reyes Beverage Group, one of the largest spirits distributors in the U.S., as well as New York Wine & Spirits in New York and Fedway Associates in New Jersey.

Kyle Dean, president of spirits and wine for Reyes Beverage Group, said in a statement that Archie Rose fits demand for premium and differentiated brands in the U.S. spirits market. He said the distillery had built a strong reputation around quality, authenticity and craftsmanship, and that the distributor expected to help introduce more American consumers to the brand.

The U.S. move comes at a time when many spirits producers are looking for new growth outside crowded domestic markets. For Archie Rose, entering the United States gives it access to one of the world’s largest spirits markets while using Hemsworth’s profile to raise awareness. The company has not disclosed the size of Hemsworth’s stake or the financial terms of the deal.

Archie Rose has built much of its identity around local sourcing. The distillery said it works with Australian growers to obtain drought-resistant grain varieties for its whiskies and native botanicals for its gins. It also said its whiskies are made exclusively with Australian-grown malts, including rye and barley grown specifically for the company, an approach it says is meant to reflect Australian agriculture and landscape in the final product.

Edwards said the company’s strategy has long been centered on local ingredients and on making spirits that taste distinctly Australian. In the company statement, he said bringing Hemsworth in as a co-owner would help take that approach to a wider global audience. He framed the partnership as part of a larger effort to tell the story of Australian growers and production through the company’s whisky, gin and other spirits.

Archie Rose already has a public-facing presence in Sydney through its Bar & Cellar Door in Rosebery, where visitors can taste spirits and take distillery tours. The company also said it is certified as a B Corp, a designation used by companies that meet standards related to social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Celebrity involvement in alcohol brands is now common across the global drinks business, especially in spirits, where public recognition can help newer or smaller producers secure shelf space and attract attention in competitive markets. Archie Rose’s decision to bring Hemsworth into the ownership structure, rather than use him only as a paid endorser, suggests the company wants to make the partnership central to its next phase of growth as it enters the U.S. and expands in Europe and Asia.