Danny McBride’s Don Gato Tequila: Major Team Expansion + Top 10 Fastest Growing Tequila Brand

COOL TIMES ARE SCALING: DON GATO TEQUILA ADDS KEY LEADERS TO FUEL NATIONAL GROWTH

Charleston, SC - April 29, 2026 — Don Gato Tequila, the fast-growing, award-winning tequila brand co-founded with actor Danny McBride, today announced a significant expansion of its leadership team, bringing on seasoned industry operators across sales, marketing, and national accounts as the brand accelerates its U.S. growth.

Since launching in late 2024, Don Gato has quickly emerged as one of the spirits industry’s most talked-about newcomers, earning multiple international awards, securing placements in hundreds of on- and off-premise accounts across the Southeast and beyond, and most recently being named one of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Tequila Brands by The Tequila Report. Charleston, SC has served as the brand’s proving ground, demonstrating the kind of market penetration Don Gato intends to replicate nationally.

To support its next phase, Don Gato has added three full-time leaders with deep experience across the three-tier system, brand building, channel management, and national chain expansion. This team was recruited with the continuing guidance of former senior leaders from LALO Tequila, one of the fastest-growing tequila brands in recent U.S. history.

Strategic Hires to Drive National Expansion

Chad Wiltgen joins as SVP of Sales to lead national account strategy and large-scale retail expansion. A proven builder of brands, Wiltgen was an early sales leader behind St-Germain’s growth from a few hundred cases to nearly 100,000 worldwide prior to its acquisition by Bacardi. He has led expansion into major chains including Walmart, Costco, Total Wine, and BevMo, and brings 18 years of three-tier experience spanning spirits, RTDs, and national accounts.

Lee Reeves joins Don Gato as VP of Sales following a standout run as Georgia State Manager for LALO Tequila, where he grew the brand from approximately 100 accounts to more than 1,500 statewide and increased annual volume from 2,000 to a projected 12,000 units. Prior to LALO, Reeves held multiple leadership roles at Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), including Division Manager of the Artisan Group. With nearly two decades in the alcohol industry, Reeves brings deep expertise in distributor engagement, market expansion, and on/off-premise execution.

Jamie Soriano, Vice President of Marketing, brings more than 15 years of experience leading luxury and high-growth brands, including leadership roles at LVMH Moët Hennessy and Tequila Komos. At Don Gato, she is responsible for building the brand’s marketing infrastructure, leading national partnerships, and driving trade and consumer engagement. She has already spearheaded Don Gato’s partnership with Major League Wrestling - a platform that reaches over 42 million combined social followers and simulcasts across more than 60 countries - creating a unique experiential vehicle that blends entertainment, content, and on-premise activation.

Built by Operators, Not Just a Story

Don Gato was co-founded by a group of seasoned operators - including former restaurateurs and F&B industry veterans with 50+ restaurant openings across the U.S. - alongside Danny McBride and his wife, Gia Ruiz McBride. Gia, niece of Cheech Marin, brings a genuine cultural connection to the brand and led R&D on both expressions. The brand was built around a clear conviction: tequila should deliver premium quality without the premium price tag, and it should actually be fun.

Produced from fully mature Blue Weber agave using traditional methods - including brick oven cooking and tahona milling - Don Gato is made with just three ingredients: agave, water, and yeast. The result is a clean, additive-free tequila that has earned Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the New York International Spirits Competition, a “Best in Show” designation, and recognition among the Top 5 Best New Tequilas Under $60 of 2025 by Bottle Raiders.

Positioned for What’s Next

“I’ll be honest, when I went down to Jalisco to document the greatness of Don Gato, I figured the tequila would be free. It wasn’t. Turns out I just opened the most expensive tab of my life,” said Danny McBride, actor and creator of the Don Gato saga. “Don Gato’s been making tequila and having cool times forever. I’m just a guy lucky enough to tell people about it… and slowly work off my debt.”

With a strengthened team, growing national distribution, and increasing momentum across both on- and off-premise channels, Don Gato is positioning itself as one of the most disruptive emerging brands in the tequila category - proof that great liquid, smart pricing, and a genuinely original brand story can cut through even the most crowded shelf.

ABOUT DON GATO TEQUILA

Don Gato Tequila is a premium spirit perfected by undefeated luchador Don Gato and brought to life through wild, tequila-fueled sagas narrated by longtime fan Danny McBride. Crafted from 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the Lowlands of Jalisco, it delivers bold, unmasked flavor with zero gimmicks. Made with just agave, water, and yeast, Don Gato offers award-winning Blanco and Reposado expressions that are clean, authentic, and built on a simple belief: tequila should be fun, not fussy.

Made good. For cool times.

For media inquiries, contact: [email protected]