In the world of celebrity spirits, few famous names seem to have the same passion for their company that Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have for their mezcal Dos Hombres.
Since 2019, the ‘Breaking Bad’ stars have been making their mark on an idea prepared during a sushi dinner to one of the best mezcals on the market.
Unlike their hit AMC drama, where Cranston’s Walter White was the mastermind fueling the show’s massive meth smuggling operation, it was Paul who was instrumental in getting Dos Hombres off the ground.
“Without Aaron, this business would not have taken off. It would have been nothing because it was his idea,” Cranston told CNBC Make It.
The duo worked hard together to promote their brand, tour the country to create awareness and excitement around Dos Hombres, even stop at Costco stores to surprise buyers by pouring samples.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere surrounding their appearances, the pair often spend long hours on the road meeting with accounts and hotel chains as they seek to expand Dos Hombres’ footprint.
“Breaking Bad” stars and Dos Hombres co-founders Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston.
Back Men/Max Barness
In fact, the process of promoting and releasing their mezcal is not unlike the long days spent on set, Paul told CNBC Make It.
“It’s really very similar. Just get out there and pound the pavement,” Paul says. “The hours are unforgiving when we do these tours. I mean, I’m not exaggerating that we have these 17 hour days. It’s rough, but we’re having a great time doing it.”
“It’s important to Bryan and I, as founders of this company, that [our business partners] know that we are doing the work. We don’t want to just type our names on something and let others do the work,” the 43-year-old “Westworld” star adds. “He’s our baby, and we’re incredibly proud of our baby.”
Cranston calls Dos Hombres a “labor of love,” pointing out that neither he nor Paul decided to go into the business because they were short on money. Indeed, the pair say they have only invested money in the business so far and have yet to recoup anything.
We don’t want to just put our name on something and let other people do the work. He’s our baby, and we’re incredibly proud of our baby.
Aaron Paul
Co-founder, Dos Hombres
Instead, the 66-year-old says he and Paul would have been more than happy not to go into business together if they hadn’t found something “that we both really like and that can be passionate”.
“We don’t need jobs. I don’t want a job. A job is awful. But we love to work and I only want to take on projects in my acting, producing, spirits career if I’m fully committed. and I love the product,” says Cranston. “It’s a labor of love for us, and it turns into an incredibly successful business.”
But none of that is to say that Paul and Cranston don’t have their eye on a Dos Hombres payday somewhere down the line.
They watched fellow comedian George Clooney sell his tequila company Casamigos for $1 billion and are confident they will recoup their investment at some point.
“We just keep our heads down and get the job done. But of course it’s a job, it’s a business and we want to enjoy it one day, but that hasn’t happened yet,” says Paul. “But we believe with every fiber of our being that it will 100% happen.”
Cranston goes one step further, saying the duo hope Dos Hombres will somehow be the best-selling Mezcal in the world. Until then, he is ready to continue taking meetings, making appearances and doing more 17 hour days.
“The common denominator of any successful business is putting in the hours, putting in the hard work,” Cranston said. “There is no substitute for that. All successful businessmen know this. There is no magic powder. We are not looking for her.”
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Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul on Creating the Dos Hombres Brand E! News UK