What a long strange trip it’s been as Breaking Bad stars go from fictional Hollywood drug world to real-life Mezcal brand owners. In 2019 Breaking Bad costars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston launched the artesanal mezcal brand ‘Dos Hombres’. The pair says the name represents ‘two guys on a quest’.
Now two years on in their Mezcal journey the duo has announced Constellation Brands has acquired a minority stake in the hand-crafted mezcal brand. The investment was made through Constellation’s venture capital group, and Dos Hombres remains independently owned and will continue to manage, market, and produce its award-winning mezcals.
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“Aaron and Bryan have turned their shared passion for mezcal into a truly unique brand and have created an exceptional liquid that receives frequent praise from both the industry and its consumers,” said Jennifer Evans, vice president, Constellation Ventures. “Our goal is to make strategic, minority investments in high potential brands in growing categories, and the U.S. mezcal market continues to show great potential. We’re excited to further invest in the category with a great team and brand that we feel has a lot of growth runway.”
U.S. Mezcal Category Grew 14% in 2020
The U.S. mezcal market has grown rapidly in the last few years and is expected to continue its strong growth trajectory. The overall U.S. mezcal category grew 14% in 2020 according to IWSR, and ultra-premium mezcal (priced above $30 per bottle) is projected to be the largest and fastest-growing segment within the category.
After forming what the duo dubs a “special bond” while filming the critically acclaimed AMC television show and knowing they would not be sharing the screen together for quite some time, Paul and Cranston began discussing ways they could work together again as they sipped cocktails at a bar in New York. They soon found inspiration from the drinks in their hands and set their sights on teaming up to create a truly special mezcal.
“We have fallen in love with all things mezcal – the process, the community behind the spirit, the tradition,” said Paul. “We were just two guys on a quest to find a spirit that we felt everyone would love, and we’ve put a lot of energy into this. We couldn’t be more excited for the next chapter with Constellation and continuing to build this brand. We have big hopes and dreams for Dos Hombres and we are thrilled that Constellation’s vision for Dos Hombres is aligned with ours.”
Dos Hombres is the product of multiple generations of proud mezcal producers from the small village of San Luis del Rio, in a remote section of Oaxaca, Mexico. The brand is made with hand-selected Espadín agave that are cooked in underground pit ovens, milled by donkey-drawn tahona, fermented for 7-10 days with mountain spring water, and double distilled in copper stills. The end product is a well-balanced mezcal that features signature smokiness, yet smooth with hints of apple, mango, local Oaxacan fruits, and wood.
“It really has been an incredible journey,” added Cranston. “From an idea at a bar, to searching all over Oaxaca, hiking through the most majestic landscape in search of a mezcal that spoke to us, to meeting incredible people along the way, to where we are today – we can’t wait to keep sharing this brand with the world.”
How Much Did Constellation Brands Invest in ‘Dos Hombres’?
As is usual during these kind of deals the actual terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Constellation Brands is a leading international producer of and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, Italy and Canada. The company’s Constellation Ventures include investments in Bardstown Bourbon Company, Catoctin Creek Distilling, Copper & Kings American Brandy, High West Whiskey, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery and Real McCoy Spirits Corp.
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