Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston launch Dos Hombres Tequila

Breaking Bad actors and founders of mezcal brand Dos Hombres, Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston, have moved into Tequila with two expressions: Blanco and Reposado.

Paul and Cranston unveiled Dos Hombres Tequila yesterday (Thursday 9 April) after the brand's Instagram page had teased the release for the past week. The pair turned to Tequilera Tap Distillery (NOM 1614) in Amatitán, Jalisco, to craft the Tequilas under the stewardship of Julio Cova, who is said to have returned from a near 40-year retirement to produce Dos Hombres as its maestro tequilero. On the entry into Tequila, Cranston called it the “natural next step for Dos Hombres” and added that it “emphasises our passion and appreciation for agave spirits”. “We did a great deal of research, visited multiple sites and fell in love with the people, products and craftsmanship at Tequilera Tap Distillery,” he said. Paul, meanwhile, said: “Following a fun and expansive tasting process, we landed on a Tequila that is smooth, approachable and beautifully balanced. It captures the spirit, energy and experience we want people to feel with every pour.” Dos Hombres’ blanco and reposado both sit at 40% ABV. According to the team, the process sees 100% slow-roasted Blue Weber agave slow-cooked in both autoclaves and traditional brick ovens, crushed using a roller mill and then double-distilled in copper and stainless steel stills. The Tequila then rests for up to 30 days in open-air fermentation vats. The blanco’s notes start with smooth cooked agave before black pepper, lime and orange zest arrive. Notes of orange blossom and toasted cinnamon are then said to round out the profile, while the finish is long and soft with a touch of coconut. The reposado was matured for four months in ex-Four Roses Bourbon first-fill barrels, adding a richer, lightly-oaked character to the profile. Dos Hombres Blanco will be available at select retailers in the US from 1 May, while Dos Hombres Reposado Tequila will debut in July. The blanco is priced at US$39.99, and the reposado at US$49.99. An añejo is also planned for an early 2027 release. Cova said: “It is an honour to work alongside the Dos Hombres team and develop these new Tequila expressions. “From the very beginning, their passion for high-quality agave spirits was clear, along with their outstanding work ethic. For many reasons, including the fact that I highly resonated with Aaron and Bryan’s sense of craft and artistry, Dos Hombres felt like the perfect opportunity to make the most of my creative talents. “Becoming Dos Hombres’ maestro tequilero feels like a long-deserved recognition and acknowledgement, after being in the industry for almost four decades.” New design In addition to the Tequila launch, the brand has also updated the bottle and label designs across its full portfolio. The new design has ‘vibrant colours and refined typography’, which it feels brings a ‘modern take’ to the bottle while keeping its signature features such as the Dos Hombres signature donkeys, agave plant and ingredient transparency. Cranston and Paul’s initial arrival into the spirits industry was with mezcal. The actors officially launched Dos Hombres Mezcal in July 2019, sourcing their spirit from producers in San Luis del Río, Oaxaca, after travelling Mexico to find “something so damn good even people who don’t think they like mezcal will love it”. Their mezcal range consists of an Espadín and a Tobala. The pair sold a minority stake to US firm Constellation Brands in 2021. Last year, the brand landed US$15 million in investment from an undisclosed investor. The funds would be used on awareness, distribution to further invest in Dos Hombres’ sales and field resources, and expand its premium product portfolio.