Corona brewer and leading alcohol beverage company Constellation Brands announced today that it has acquired a minority stake in Dos Hombres, the mezcal from “Breaking Bad” co-stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston. While the financial terms were not disclosed, Dos Hombres will remain independently owned and will continue to manage, market, and produce the artisanal and hand-crafted mezcal.
Cranston and Paul formed a special bond working on their AMC series and decided to stay in business together by launching Dos Hombres in 2019. The mezcal itself is the product of multiple generations of mezcal producers from San Luis del Rio in Oaxaca, Mexico.
“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,” says Jennifer Evans, vice president of Constellation Ventures.
The investment fits Constellation’s larger strategy to seek categories with high potential, as mezcal has been on a strong growth trajectory over the last few years and is showing no signs of slowing down. The overall category grew 14% in the U.S. over the course of 2020, according to analysis from IWSR. Mezcals priced above $30 per bottle are projected to be the largest and fastest-growing segment within the category.
“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,” says Evans. “We’re excited to further invest in the category with a great team and brand that we feel has a lot of growth runway.”