Chris Hemsworth Joins Archie Rose as Co-Owner Ahead of Global Expansion
3 min
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has joined Archie Rose Distilling Co. as co-owner and strategic business partner as the Sydney spirits company prepares to enter the United States.
The partnership brings Hemsworth together with Archie Rose founder Will Edwards, with the pair aiming to build greater international recognition for Australian whisky.
Founded in Sydney in 2014, Archie Rose has developed a distinctively Australian range of whiskies, gins and other spirits using locally grown grains and native botanicals.
Hemsworth said his involvement grew from a long-standing admiration for the distiller and its use of Australian ingredients.
“I’ve been a fan of Archie Rose for a long time,” Hemsworth said.
“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.”
Three new Australian whiskies
Three whiskies co-created with Hemsworth are scheduled to launch later in 2026.
Made using 100 per cent Australian-grown malts, the whiskies will be released nationally and introduced to the United States as Archie Rose enters that market for the first time.
Further releases are planned for Asia and New Zealand, followed by expansion into the United Kingdom and European Union in 2027.
Archie Rose will continue to oversee distillation and production, while Hemsworth will contribute to storytelling, creative direction, design and content development.
Edwards said the partnership would help introduce Archie Rose—and Australian spirits more broadly—to a larger international audience.
“Our approach has always been about championing local ingredients to create spirits that taste truly Australian,” Edwards said.
“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.”
A distinctly Australian approach
Archie Rose works with Australian growers to source heirloom and drought-resistant grain varieties for its whiskies, as well as native botanicals for its gins.
Its whiskies are produced exclusively with Australian-grown malts, including rye and barley cultivated specifically for the distiller.
Each malt is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled and matured separately before the components are combined. The process is designed to retain the individual character of each grain.
For its gins, Archie Rose uses cold distillation to help preserve the character of individual botanicals.
The company says it has received more than 450 awards, including World’s Best Rye Whisky twice, Australia’s Best Single Malt Whisky five times and World’s Best Gin.
Archie Rose received B Corp certification in June 2026, recognising its stated commitments to social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
The company operates its distillery in Botany, Sydney, with a public bar and cellar door in nearby Rosebery.
Hemsworth’s arrival as co-owner marks a significant change for the previously family-owned company—and gives one of Australia’s most recognisable actors an active role in the effort to establish Australian whisky as a global category.
Victorian auction buyers will soon receive a piece of information that has traditionally been withheld until bidding reaches it: the vendor’s reserve price. Under new property-sale and underquoting laws, agents must publish the agreed reserve at least seven days before an auction or fixed-date sale. Most changes begin on 1 October 2026 and apply to …
Continue reading “Victoria’s New Auction Rules Will Force Reserve Prices Into the Open”
Four decks, 34.5 metres and a made-to-measure interior: step aboard the new Custom Line Navetta 35, unveiled at Cannes.
Four decks, 34.5 metres and a made-to-measure interior: step aboard the new Custom Line Navetta 35, unveiled at Cannes.
2 minThe most compelling modern yachts increasingly borrow from residential architecture: clearer circulation, larger windows and outdoor rooms that feel genuinely connected to the interior. Custom Line’s new Navetta 35, given its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, pushes that idea across four decks.
At 34.5 metres long with a beam of 7.7 metres, the yacht is the new entry point to Custom Line’s displacement range. Its scale is substantial enough to create distinct private, social and service zones, yet remains below the dimensions of the yard’s larger custom superyachts.
The exterior was developed through Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee and Engineering Department, while Custom Line Atelier supervised the interior definition and owner personalisation. That made-to-measure process is central to the brand: layouts, materials, furniture and artwork can be shaped around how an owner intends to use the yacht rather than applied as a fixed decorative package.
Outdoor living is distributed across the vessel rather than concentrated at the stern. The beach club brings guests close to the water; the main and upper decks provide protected entertaining areas; and the sun deck creates a more private elevated retreat. The design seeks to preserve open sightlines, allowing sea views to run through social spaces and reducing the sense of division between saloon and terrace.
The Navetta designation signals a displacement yacht intended for composed, efficient cruising rather than outright speed. For owners, the appeal lies in range, comfort and the ability to spend longer periods aboard. Technical specifications, engine options, range and top speed should be confirmed against the final shipyard data for the displayed hull.
What can be seen is a continuation of Custom Line’s preference for quiet sophistication. Instead of decorating every surface, the interior architecture uses proportion, natural light and carefully selected materials to carry the experience. Built-in pieces establish structure, while freestanding furniture and art allow an owner’s personality to emerge.
The debut also arrives during Custom Line’s 30th anniversary year. Since its foundation, the marque says it has delivered more than 300 made-to-measure yachts. The Navetta 35 is therefore both a new model and a statement about what the next chapter should look like: more openness, closer contact with the water and customisation that goes beyond choosing finishes.
At Cannes, where new models compete for attention metre by metre, the Navetta 35’s proposition is relatively restrained. It is not trying to look like the fastest boat in the marina. It is designed to feel like a highly private waterfront home — one capable of moving when the owner wants a different view.
Yacht snapshot
– Model: Custom Line Navetta 35
– Type: Displacement superyacht
– Length: 34.5 metres
– Beam: 7.7 metres
– Decks: Four
– Debut: Cannes Yachting Festival, 8–13 September 2026
– Builder: Custom Line, Ferretti Group
– Price: On application
Three-Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo will host an intimate Mediterranean sailing aboard Crystal Serenity, redefining fine dining at sea.
With two waterfronts, bushland surrounds and a $35 million price tag, this Belongil Beach retreat could become Byron’s most expensive home ever.
