Chris Hemsworth has joined Archie Rose Distilling Co. as its co-owner alongside founder Will Edwards, as the whisky and spirits company prepares to enter the United States for the first time.

Founded in Sydney in 2014, Archie Rose has built an international reputation for its distinctively Australian approach to whisky and spirits. Hemsworth’s involvement marks a significant next chapter for the company as it introduces its award-winning whiskies to the US market in late 2026.

Hemsworth said: “I’ve been a fan of Archie Rose for a long time. Wherever I am in the world, tasting an Archie Rose whisky immediately transports me right back home, to that feeling of sitting around a campfire in the Australian bush with my mates.

“Their ethos of only using Australian grown malts to produce flavour packed whiskies at their Sydney distillery is truly awesome. They’re a brilliant example of what Australia does best and I can’t wait to share that with the world.”

The distillery partners with local growers to sustainably source heirloom and drought resistant grain varieties for its whiskies and native botanicals for its gins. Its whiskies are made exclusively with Australian grown malts, including custom rye and barley grown specifically for Archie Rose, allowing the character of the country’s ingredients and landscape to come through in every expression. 

Founder Will Edwards (above) said: “Our approach has always been about championing local ingredients to create spirits that taste truly Australian. 

“Having Chris join the business as a co-owner allows us to bring that ambition to the world. We aren’t just making spirits; we are using Australia’s raw materials and ingenuity as the base for producing the world’s best whisky, gin and other spirits, telling the stories of the growers and the land beneath them.”

Archie Rose has won more than 450 awards, including World’s Best Rye Whisky twice, Australia’s Best Single Malt Whisky five times and the World’s Best Gin.

The Sydney distillery was also built to meet a range of energy efficiency measures. Together with Archie Rose’s commitment to local sourcing and growing, these practices contributed to the company becoming B Corp Certified in June 2026, aligning with Chris’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability in production.

In addition to its US entry, Archie Rose will expand its international presence later this year with three whiskies co-created with Hemsworth launching across markets in Asia and New Zealand. The rollout will continue into the EU and UK in 2027, marking a significant new chapter for the distillery and Australian whisky internationally.

US headlines for Archie Rose’s Hemsworth coup

The news Hemsworth is joining Archie Rose has already garnered international headlines for the distiller.

Hemsworth told PEOPLE: “I’ve been lucky enough to spend most of my career sharing Australian talent and creativity with audiences around the world, and this feels like an extension of that.

“This wasn’t about just putting my name on a bottle, it was about joining a business I genuinely believe in.I want to help introduce more people to Australian whiskey and show that it deserves a place alongside the best in the world.”

Hemsworth says he shares the brand’s “passion for Australian craftsmanship, innovation, and backing local growers and makers.”

“Whether it’s working with Australian native ingredients or using native stringybark as an Australian answer to traditional peat, they’re always finding new ways to express Australia in the glass,” he said.