Following your dreams sometimes means sipping on a cocktail in the morning

A lot of our nights, whether we’re millennials or Gen Zs, have been derailed by one too many gin and tonics. Be it a Goa trip, a milestone birthday, or a Friday night after a tough work week, a strong cocktail is always a faithful companion. For Sakshi Saigal, co-founder of Third Eye Distillery, a glass of G&T didn’t just change a night, it changed the course of her life — to the point that now some of her days start with gin (flavour tastings) at 8 AM.

Saigal’s plan was straightforward: finish her MBA in Spain and return to India to work in impact investing. But in 2013, while pursuing her degree at IESE Business School in Barcelona, she became intrigued by Europe’s gin boom. “There were several gin bars that were serving different gins from across the world paired with tonic waters. And several brands had links to India, in terms of the botanicals and spices that were being used. But none of the brands were made in India,” she recalls. It set Saigal’s brain ticking—why weren’t there premium gin brands coming out of India?

Her curiosity pushed her to pivot from her original plan. After completing her MBA, she pursued a distilling course in Amsterdam and by 2018, had co-founded Third Eye Distillery with her partner Rahul Mehra and cousin Vidur Gupta. Soon after, Stranger & Sons was born, a premium Indian gin made with native botanicals that spotlight India’s spice and agricultural heritage.

Saigal had a dream and chased it full throttle. But starting a business can feel a lot like jumping without knowing for sure that you won’t plummet straight to the ground. We asked Saigal to share lessons from her journey that could help budding entrepreneurs take the plunge as well as give them the best chance for a soft landing. Here’s her advice for chasing entrepreneurial dreams.

A passionate entrepreneur’s advice for chasing your business dreams

Stand by your baby, even if no one else does

Making the world believe in your dream is the hardest part of starting a business. Even if it looks like you’re surrounded by scepticism, you need to stay firm on your conviction. That’s what Saigal did. In the beginning, when Saigal and her team carried bottles of gin in their backpacks to meetings with distributors, they were always questioned on why such an expensive gin was coming out of India. But she and her team didn’t just want to launch a premium gin; they wanted to convince people that an Indian brand could sit proudly alongside international giants like Bombay Sapphire and Hendrick’s. Her persistence paid off. Stranger & Sons has not only found a loyal fanbase but also earned global recognition as a premium made-in-India brand. Their gin was the first Indian gin to win a gold outstanding at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2020.

Don’t rest on your wins

When you’re a new entrepreneur, validation can mean everything. But every accolade is also the beginning of the hike to the next milestone, and innovation is the backbone of it. For Saigal, the excitement lies in creating new recipes and brainstorming about the next recipe. “We’ve done four or five limited editions,” she says, describing collaborations like their guava-chilli cocktail with Mumbai restaurant The Bombay Canteen, a bespoke gin for Four Seasons’ AER restaurant, and the Espresso Martini with Subko Coffee Roasters. “It’s exciting to constantly think of what’s next,” she says.

Find (or build) your tribe

Building a business isn’t a solo endeavour. A strong community can be your biggest asset, whether it’s people from the industry extending their support to you as a new player, brainstorming for ideas with a team or venting to your closest friend at the end of a hard day. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, Saigal’s experience was pleasant when she found acceptance from distributors, clients and even excise officers. “You need to put in the hard work and dedication to hone your craft and not let stereotypical industry norms hold you back (these women who shattered gender stereotypes in male-dominated fields would agree). In my opinion, skill trumps gender and personality,” she says.

She also discovered kinship among other women in the alcoholic beverage industry through a WhatsApp group. “It’s got brand owners, bartenders, distillers—about 50 to 60 people. Anyone can ask for resources, share expertise, or talk about their latest venture,” she shares. For Saigal, this group isn’t just about support, it’s about fostering mutual growth in a competitive space. Always reach out to your colleagues in the industry, you don’t have to be best friends with everyone, but these connections will take you a long way in your journey.

Saigal’s journey is a testament to the fact that as risky and uncertain as starting a business can be, it’s your vision, your determination and ability to ask for support, that will pay off in the end and pave the way for success.