Two Families. Three Ingredients. Simple In Spirit.
Before Authentico Organic Tequila existed, there was a seltzer.
In 2018, the Iseminger family partnered with the García family of Tequilas Del Señor to create Freshie, the world's first organic tequila seltzer (and possibly the first tequila seltzer, period). It was an unlikely entry into one of the most competitive categories in spirits, and co-founder Paige Iseminger is the first to admit it.
"We knew we had no business entering such a competitive industry," she says. "But we also knew that if we had any chance, we needed to do every small thing right. For us, that meant committing to organic practices, sustainability, and transparency. Doing things better, even if it was harder."
Freshie became the foundation for something bigger. The trust built between the two families over years of working together naturally evolved into a shared vision: to create one of the cleanest tequilas on the market, inside and outside the bottle.
That vision became Authentico.
A Family Affair
The connection to Mexico runs deep in the Iseminger family. Paige's father, Timm Martin, fell in love with the country at 18, taking trains and buses from the University of Arizona to Puerto Vallarta with friends, playing guitar for beer money, and sleeping on the beach. That spirit of adventure became part of the family DNA, eventually passed down to Paige and her husband Ryne, who were married in Puerto Vallarta with 100 of their closest friends and family.
Through life, friendships, and what Paige calls "a bit of fate," they connected with the García family at Tequilas Del Señor, one of the oldest family-owned distilleries in Mexico (established in 1943, downtown Guadalajara).
What made the García family want to work together?
"Truthfully, Tequilas Del Señor chose to work with us," Paige explains. "They weren't looking to expand or produce more brands. What bonded us was our shared passion for organic and sustainable practices. They've been producing organic tequila for decades, quietly and without fanfare."
Simple In Spirit
The name Authentico was originally created by the García family and offered to the Isemingers, a gesture that speaks to the depth of the partnership.
"Authentico represents the way Don Manuel García and his sons approach both their craft and their lives," Paige says. "It's about integrity, passion, and being true to yourself. We believe a hefty price tag or flashy bottle does not define the quality of a tequila, or a person."
Their slogan, Simple In Spirit, captures the philosophy behind everything they do. Simple ingredients make the best tequila: just organic agave, yeast, and water. Simple moments with family and friends are often the most meaningful.
What Makes Authentico Different
One of the most special elements of the production is the mother yeast at Tequilas Del Señor, over half a century old and carefully preserved by the García family. They even maintain backup cultures in secure vaults in Guadalajara and Mexico City. It's believed to be the oldest mother yeast in the tequila industry, and it remains the heart of every bottle.
That heritage, paired with a commitment to doing every detail right, has earned Authentico an impressive list of credentials: USDA Organic, additive-free, sustainably produced, carbon neutral certified, kosher, and family owned. They're one of the most awarded new tequila brands in the category.
What's Next
Brand development started in 2022. By late 2024, they soft-launched their Blanco, Reposado, and Cristalino in Chicago. By 2025, they had expanded into over 15 states. As of 2026, Authentico is available in 19 states with plans to continue growing, including California in 2027.
"While people may be drinking slightly less overall, they're becoming more educated and intentional about the brands they support," Paige notes. "The ability to discover Authentico on social media and order directly online is a powerful shift in the industry."
More than anything, the goal remains personal: to grow their community and truly know the people enjoying Authentico.
