Aaron Paul’s searing performance in the hit crime drama Breaking Bad put the Idaho-born actor on the map. But as Robb Report’s acting editor-in-chief Josh Condon uncovered in a House of Robb panel discussion at Monterey Car Week, the actor finds fresh inspiration in everything from mezcal and caviar passion projects to classic cars.
It’s not often when co-stars enjoy a strong bond far beyond day-to-day involvement in television production, but Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston maintained their friendship following their on-screen relationship in Breaking Bad. “He’s my son’s godfather, he’s truly my best friend in the world,” Paul says. “Brian always says, ‘If he and I played golf [after the show ended], we would’ve never started a company’; we needed a reason to see each other.”
Actor Aaron Paul (right) and Robb Report‘s acting editor-in-chief Josh Condon interact with the audience at House of Robb at the Carmel Valley Ranch on August 17.
Robb Report
The pair cofounded the mezcal brand Dos Hombres three years after Breaking Bad wrapped. The production of mezcal involves a process that requires craftwork, strategy, and patience. “Mezcal is made from the top agave and takes 25 years to be mature enough to harvest. We only get one batch of 400 bottles per quarter because of how precious these plants are.” Paul describes mezcal as “. . . the finest spirit out there. It’s so clean and pure. It has 70 calories per ounce, it’s gluten and sugar free. We like to say it’s almost irresponsible not to drink it.” He cites responsible entrepreneurship that included building a state-of-the-art water filtration plant for the village where distillation takes place, and returning 3 percent of all profits towards the cleanup of oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Bryan Cranston (left) and Aaron…