How ‘Breaking Bad’ Duo Turned Missing Each Other Into A Surprising New Venture

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul reveal how the "Breaking Bad" reunion dinner sparked Dos Hombres after their rocky first mezcal pitch. The How ‘Breaking Bad’ Duo Turned Missing Each Other Into A Surprising New Venture first appeared on The Blast

More than a decade after “Breaking Bad” signed off, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are still finding new ways to build on the partnership that made them household names. 

While fans remember the pair as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, the actors recently revealed that one of their biggest post-show successes was born from something far simpler: missing each other. 

What started as a reunion dinner years after the series ended eventually evolved into Dos Hombres, the spirits brand that continues to grow with the release of its new Reposado.

‘Breaking Bad’ Stars Realized Something Was Missing After The Show Ended

For nearly seven years, Cranston and Paul spent much of their lives working side by side as “Breaking Bad” became one of television’s defining dramas. When the series wrapped in 2013, that constant connection suddenly disappeared.

Speaking at a launch event for Dos Hombres in West Hollywood, Cranston admitted the separation was felt almost immediately.

“Three years after the end of Breaking Bad, we missed each other and we didn’t know where the other person was most of the time after spending nearly seven years together, very close, sometimes too close now,” he told guests, per the Daily Mail.

Paul quickly jumped in with a correction, sharing, “Never too close.” The pair eventually reunited for dinner in New York City, a meeting that would end up changing far more than their friendship. 

Looking back on the conversation, Cranston recalled turning to his former co-star with an unexpected idea. 

On the other hand, Paul remembered it a little differently, joking that the proposal caught him completely off guard.

‘Breaking Bad’ Friendship Sparked A Quest For The Perfect Mezcal

That New York dinner became the starting point for what would later become Dos Hombres.

According to Paul, Cranston suggested launching a mezcal company, and his response was immediate. “Start a mezcal company,” Paul recalled before adding, “To which I said, ‘Wow!’ Terrible!”

The reaction stemmed from Cranston’s earlier experience with the spirit. “The sh*tty spirit with the dead worm at the bottom of it?” Paul remembered thinking.

Cranston explained why he initially wanted nothing to do with mezcal. “So obviously, I had a very, very, very bad mezcal when I was 19-years-old, and I didn’t want to have that ever again,” he said.

However, Paul eventually changed the 70-year-old’s mind. “You brought me back,” Cranston told him, crediting his friend with introducing him to a completely different side of mezcal culture.

The actor even joked about the process, telling guests, “He took me to a mezcal bar and wined and dined me. I didn’t go home with him. No, no, not that kind of girl.”

‘Breaking Bad’ Duo Built Dos Hombres Around Passion, Not Necessity

For Cranston, the appeal of launching a business had little to do with finding work. Instead, he and Paul were searching for something they genuinely cared about.

“But we shared that same desire to do something passionate, and we’ve been very fortunate in our lives, in our personal lives, in our marriages, in our work, and we love to work, but we don’t need jobs. So that was my criteria there. I don’t want to have a job,” Cranston explained.

When Paul asked, “Does this feel like a job to you?” Cranston didn’t hesitate.

“No. No, no, it doesn’t. It doesn’t, and that’s the great thing about it, is that we’re passionate about it. And so we went down to Oaxaca, and we found the perfect mezcal for us. Just right,” the “Malcom in the Middle” star shared.

The pair officially launched Dos Hombres in 2019, choosing a name that reflected the friendship at the heart of the project. 

Announcing the brand, they described it as “two guys on a quest,” adding, “It’s been a long and crazy journey and we couldn’t be happier to share this with you and the rest of the world.”

More From The Blast

• Aaron Paul made a major move away from Hollywood after slashing nearly $2 million from the price of his Los Angeles home.
• Bryan Cranston returned to familiar territory as the “Malcolm in the Middle” revival earned solid early reviews.
• Aaron Paul previously revealed how “Breaking Bad” helped him grow as an actor, crediting Cranston as a mentor.
• Paul also received approval to legally change his surname years after making “Paul” famous on screen.
• Bob Odenkirk once revealed the advice Cranston gave him before leading “Better Call Saul”.

Cranston And Paul Turn OMNIA Dayclub Into A Massive ‘Breaking Bad’ Celebration

The success of Dos Hombres moved from the bottle to the party scene in July when Cranston and Paul arrived at Las Vegas’ OMNIA Dayclub to celebrate the launch of the brand’s newest expansion. 

As The Blast shared, the former “Breaking Bad” co-stars hosted a high-energy event centered on the introduction of Dos Hombres Blanco and Dos Hombres Reposado, the company’s first tequila releases after building its reputation in the mezcal space. 

Guests were treated to specialty cocktails featuring the new tequilas as Cranston and Paul mingled with fans, posed for photos, and raised glasses throughout the day. 

The Blanco tequila debuted with notes of black pepper, citrus zest, orange blossom, toasted cinnamon, and coconut, while the Reposado was introduced as a barrel-aged counterpart designed to offer a richer profile. 

The event also showcased how far the brand has come since its original mezcal launch. Produced in Amatitán, Jalisco, with maestro tequilero Julio Cova, the new tequilas represented what Cranston described as “a natural evolution of the brand.” 

Co-Star Says Cranston Was A Father Figure To The Entire Cast

The enduring partnership and friendship that Cranston and Paul have built since “Breaking Bad” ended is hardly a surprise to those who worked alongside them. 

In fact, one former cast member revealed that Cranston’s influence stretched far beyond his relationship with Paul.

In a recent appearance on the “Joe Vulpis” podcast, Charles Baker, who played Skinny Pete on the hit series, reflected on his experience working with the Emmy-winning actor and described him as a guiding presence for nearly everyone on set.

“For everybody, I think he was like a father figure. He was kind, he was funny, he was giving, very considerate, he would take the time to talk to you,” Baker said.

Baker explained that Cranston’s personality couldn’t have been more different from Walter White, the intimidating character he portrayed on screen. Instead, he remembered an actor who constantly encouraged others and never carried himself like a television star.

“He had a great sense of humor. He loved messing with people just in good ways. He didn’t take himself too seriously, and he was just an easy man — is an easy man to love just because of who he is,” Baker added. 

The actor also recalled watching Cranston juggle acting and directing duties on “Breaking Bad.” According to Baker, Cranston regularly offered thoughtful notes between takes, including reminders such as, “Hey, when you say this line … I need you to give me a little bit more space before you say it.”

The How ‘Breaking Bad’ Duo Turned Missing Each Other Into A Surprising New Venture first appeared on The Blast