Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has acquired an equity stake in Archie Rose Distilling Co, partnering with founder Will Edwards to finance an international retail rollout.
The Sydney-based spirits producer plans to use the capital injection to enter the United States later this year while introducing three new whiskies across Asia and New Zealand.
Global push from Sydney
Hemsworth will work directly on product development at the distillery alongside his co-ownership role. The collaboration focuses on blending three distinct whiskies tailored for regional export markets.
Archie Rose has built its business on botanical gins, single malts, and rye whiskies in Australia. Securing high-profile backing reflects a broader push by independent Australian craft distillers to secure distribution shelf space in high-margin Asian retail channels and premium hospitality venues.
Whisky demand in Asia
Regional consumers across Southeast Asia and East Asia continue to trade up into premium and craft brown spirits. Independent distillers often struggle against established global liquor conglomerates for retail distribution in major commercial hubs without significant marketing support.
The company plans to complete its initial US market entry before rolling out the three Hemsworth-backed whisky releases to Asian retail partners in the coming months.