Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston enjoy a bottle of their new blanco tequila, available May 1st.Dos HombresBryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are quite a dynamic duo. As co-stars of Breaking Bad, the actors took home a combined seven Primetime Emmy Awards across five seasons of what many critics consider to be the greatest dramatic series of all time. Off screen, they’ve sustained that mutual success through Dos Hombres. Initially launched in 2019, the artisanal mezcal is today a top-selling brand within the rapidly-growing category. Late last year the pair secured a sizable investment, to the tune of $15 million. At the time, the capital influx was positioned as growth-equity intended to fuel the next phase of expansion. Now we’re getting a better sense of what expansion looks like for Dos Hombres, and it involves a far more familiar style of agave spirit: tequila. Specifically, a $39.99 Blanco is slated to hit shelves on May 1st, followed soon thereafter by a $49.99 Reposado label later in the summer. This is hardly any sort of mass market liquid. Just like their legendary characters, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, Cranston and Paul are making a lasting mark by peddling premium product. For the flagship mezcal that involves the handcrafted mastery of mezcalero Gregorio Velasco. For the tequila, they’ve enlisted another industry icon: maestro tequilero Julio Cova. Aficionados will recognize Cova’s work from Tequilera Tap in Amatitán. It’s the lowland producer originally responsible for Cazcanes--among the most respected craft labels on shelves today. After more than 40 years in the business, Cova had recently stepped away to enjoy retirement. Through a shared passion for elevated agave spirit, Cranston and Paul were able to coax him back in the saddle. It turns out they can be quite convincing; yet another trait they share with their Breaking Bad characters. MORE FOR YOUTequila BlancoDos HombresTequila fans ought to be pleased with their efforts. We tasted the new Blanco and were impressed by its earthy complexities. The nose brims with vegetal, peppery elements typical to lowland offerings. But the palate supplies surprise in the form of funky tropical fruits, dusted in cinnamon and sage. The Reposado should bring even more of these lasting threads of desert and dessert, emboldened by four months of aging in Four Roses ex-Bourbon barrels. We’ll have to wait and see on that one. But in the meantime we caught up with Cranston and Paul to see why they wanted to turn their mezcal brand into a broader agave spirits brand--and what Mr. White and Jesse might have to say about the situation.The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 13: (L-R) Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston pictured with Dos Hombres Mezcal at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One - Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Trade Day hosted by Wine Spectator at Grand Tasting at Pier 76 on October 13, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for NYCWFF)Getty Images for NYCWFFYou built Dos Hombres around mezcal—what made now the right moment to expand into tequila?Bryan Cranston: “We’re both very excited to move into tequila and continue our passion for agave. After doing a lot of research, we found a great fit with Tequilera TAP in Amatitan, Jalisco and it just felt like an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up.”Was this always part of the long-term roadmap, or did something in the market shift your thinking?Aaron Paul: “Yeah, it was less about the market shifting and more about expanding our product line. We’ve always loved agave spirits, so the interest was there but we wanted to make sure we were doing it the right way. Working with partners who are as passionate about quality and authenticity as we are made it feel like the right moment to step into tequila.”Your iconic characters from Breaking Bad always stayed within their respective umm production category. What might Walt or Jesse have to say to you about expanding beyond your own original product?BC: “I’d like to think that Walt would be proud of Dos Hombres for continuing to ensure that the process retains an extreme level of purity. And, let’s face it, Walt always wanted to grow his empire. I think Jesse might have wanted to be a little more cautious though.”AP: [laughs] “Yes, I think he’d be a little nervous to break away from what the pair had been working on together. But Mr. White was always good at convincing me to expand the business and that’s exactly what we’ve done here.”BC: “But this time, Aaron is the brains of the business. I accept my role as ’The Beauty.’”How do you avoid cannibalizing your own mezcal brand while entering a closely related category?BC: “We think of entering the tequila world as not a competition with ourselves, but as a natural complement to our already established mezcal.”AP: “Both expressions, while similar, offer completely different taste and drinkability. We both entered the space with an appreciation for agave spirits as a whole and while we started with Mezcal that was not the extent of our passion.Where do you see the most white space in tequila right now: price, transparency, production, or positioning?BC: “I think that the production of different expressions of tequila is really what makes every brand stand on their own. Each is totally unique. At Dos Hombres, our brand is focused on quality and simple ingredients, in each expression: just deep earth volcanic water and agave, that’s it! We will never put flavorings or additives into our products."AP: “The average consumer is starting to understand the more nuanced differences between varieties of tequila flavors that experts have always known. This creates a lot of opportunities to give the fans something new and unique.”How do you plan to compete in a category that’s already saturated with celebrity-backed brands?AP: “For us, it always starts with the liquid. Dos Hombres was built on a real appreciation for quality agave spirits, and that hasn’t changed. We’ve been deeply involved in the process—from sourcing the agave to distillation—and we have a lot of trust in the team behind it. At the end of the day, if the product is great, people come back to it. That’s what we focus on.”BC: “We’ve never approached this as a ‘celebrity brand’—we’re building a spirits brand, full stop. The way you compete in this category is with quality, consistency, and the people behind the product. Our partners at Tequilera TAP bring decades of experience,and that expertise is reflected in every bottle. Once people taste it, they understand what sets it apart.”What defines this tequila stylistically, and how does it reflect—or depart from—the DNA of Dos Hombres?BC: “Stylistically, this tequila is all about clarity and balance. Where our mezcal leans into depth and smokiness, the tequila highlights the brighter, more vibrant side of agave—clean, expressive, and precise. That said, the DNA is the same. It’s made with a traditional approach and all-natural ingredients. No additives, no shortcuts. It’s just a different expression of the same philosophy.”What specific production choices did you make to ensure this wasn’t just an extension, but a distinct product?AP: “We were really intentional about making sure this stood on its own. It starts with the agave and how it’s handled, but also working closely with our team in Jalisco to dial in a profile that feels true to tequila, not just a continuation of what we’ve done with mezcal. The Blanco is lighter and more vibrant, with those fresh, slightly fruity notes, while the Reposado picks up more depth from time in bourbon barrels, adding a richer, smoother character. But across both, the goal was the same: keep it clean, keep it honest, and let the agave lead.”What would you say to a consumer who assumes this is just another celebrity tequila?BC: “I’d say taste it. That’s always the best answer. From the beginning, we approached Dos Hombres as a spirits company, not a celebrity project. That means taking the time to find the right partners, being involved in the process, and not releasing anything until it meets a very high standard. The goal has always been to build something that stands on its own.”AP: “Yeah, we took our time with this. We weren’t interested in putting something out just to put it out. We wanted to make sure it was something we genuinely loved and were proud of. Once people try it, they get it. It’s about the quality and the experience, not who’s behind it.”Do you see Dos Hombres becoming a broader spirits platform, or staying tightly focused on agave?AP: “For the time being I see us focusing on agave spirits as a whole. We always wanted to start with Mezcal but we were always open to expanding from there, All we do know for sure is that whatever we plan to tackle within Dos Hombres we are certain it will be dealt with focus and passion, and we promise we will only bring extremely clean and honest products to the market. We don’t believe Tequila or Mezcal needs to be masked with flavors that are unnatural within the true cooking process that it takes to create the art that is Tequila and Mezcal. The spirit deserves that."BC: “We have a lot of exciting ideas for different expressions that we hope to be able to share moving forward. And I would agree to never say never when it comes to growing Dos Hombres.”What have you learned about the spirits business that surprised you most since launching the brand?BC: “Since the start, we’ve been really lucky to meet so many amazing people in the industry. They are genuine and thoughtful about their craft and work tirelessly to make sure that they are always delivering products that exceed the expectations of our customers. I’d also say that we’ve really enjoyed talking to and learning from all the phenomenal bartenders we’ve met. If you want to know the marketplace - ask a bartender."AP: “Time flies since we first launched in 2019 and the industry has certainly changed. But to still be enjoying it this much is a testament to both our friendship and our genuine love for working in a business that allows you to be creative and make something that is totally new from anything else."Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston at the Modelo & Dos Hombres National Michelada Day Celebration held at the Chateau Marmont on July 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg Deguire/Variety via Getty Images)Variety via Getty Images