We were lucky to catch up with Mohammed Jawad recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mohammed , thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Moonlight Mocktails was really born out of a moment of realization. We were attending weddings, family gatherings, and community events where there were beautiful setups, great food, amazing energy—but when it came to drinks, there was always something missing.

As people who don’t drink alcohol ourselves, we noticed that the non-alcoholic options were either limited to water and soda or just completely overlooked. And it wasn’t just us, so many people in our community felt the same. We thought, why does a great celebration have to be tied to alcohol for people to feel like it’s complete?

That was when the spark hit. What if we could create a premium experience around non-alcoholic drinks—mocktails—that didn’t feel like a compromise? What if it could actually elevate the event?

At first, it was just a fun idea—we experimented at home, making different mocktails for friends and family. But people loved it. They didn’t miss alcohol at all. That’s when we realized, this wasn’t just about drinks, it was about creating a new kind of experience—something inclusive, something elevated, something memorable.

We knew this was a worthwhile endeavor because it solved a very real problem: people wanted to feel part of the celebration without feeling left out because they weren’t drinking. There wasn’t anything like this in our area that treated mocktails with the same attention and flair as a regular bar. Our approach was different—we weren’t just a “non-alcoholic option,” we were the main event.

What excited us most was the potential to change how people think about drinking culture, especially in communities where alcohol isn’t the focus. We wanted to show that you can have sophistication, flavor, and fun—all without alcohol.

And honestly, the response was overwhelming. From day one, people were like, “This is exactly what we needed.” That’s how we knew we had something special.

Mohammed , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Mohammed Jawad, and I’m one of the co-founders of Moonlight Mocktails. By profession, I’m a Doctor of Chiropractic, but I’ve always been someone who enjoys creating and working with my hands. Outside of my clinical work, I’ve had a long-standing passion for construction and carpentry, which naturally led me to design and build all of our bar setups and custom backdrops for events. I love being able to take a creative idea and physically bring it to life in a way that enhances the experience for our clients.

My business partner, Ali Jaffer, is the other half of Moonlight Mocktails. Ali is truly the mastermind behind all of our drink creations. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he brings not only technical skill but also an incredible sense of flavor, balance, and presentation to every mocktail we serve. His creativity is what makes our drinks stand out and keeps people coming back for more.

Together, we’ve built Moonlight Mocktails from the ground up—starting from just an idea to now being recognized as one of the go-to names in the mocktail scene. We specialize in premium, handcrafted non-alcoholic drinks, catering to weddings, corporate events, private parties, and more. What we offer isn’t just drinks—it’s an entire elevated experience centered around inclusivity, sophistication, and fun, without the need for alcohol.

One of the biggest problems we solve is giving people an alternative to traditional bar setups. So many communities, especially those who don’t drink alcohol for personal, cultural, or religious reasons, are often left with limited options at events. We change that. We bring a full-service mocktail bar, complete with unique drinks, custom setups, and a vibe that rivals any high-end bar.

What sets us apart is how hands-on and personal our approach is. Every aspect of our business is something we’ve built ourselves—literally. From the physical bars and decor, to the drink menus and customer service, everything is infused with our energy, creativity, and care. We don’t just show up at events, we become part of them, and we treat each one like it’s our own celebration.

We’re most proud of the fact that we took something that didn’t exist in this way, and turned it into a thriving, recognizable brand. Moonlight Mocktails started as a dream, and now it’s become something that resonates with so many people who wanted this kind of option but didn’t know where to find it.

If there’s one thing we’d want people to know, it’s that Moonlight Mocktails is about more than just drinks—it’s about creating moments. Whether it’s a wedding, a milestone, or a corporate gathering, we help make it special, memorable, and inclusive for everyone.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What really helped us build our reputation was staying consistent, staying true to our values, and letting our work speak for itself. From the beginning, we put everything into making sure that every event we did felt special—not just for the clients, but for us too. We treated each event like it was the most important one, whether it was a small gathering or a huge wedding.

Word of mouth has been a huge part of our growth. People would attend events where we served, and then reach out saying how much they loved the experience. We focused on giving them something they didn’t expect from a mocktail service—attention to detail, beautiful setups, drinks that didn’t feel like a “non-alcoholic substitute,” but something people genuinely enjoyed.

We also took pride in being very hands-on. We’re the ones talking to clients, building the bars, mixing the drinks, and making sure everything runs smoothly. That personal touch is something people notice and appreciate.

Social media played a big role too. We made sure to capture our events, showcase the vibe, and give people a look at what we do behind the scenes. That helped us connect with more people, and they started seeing Moonlight Mocktails not just as a service, but as a brand that cares about quality and creating experiences.

At the end of the day, we believe that if you take care of your clients, do good work, and stay consistent, people will recognize that. That’s how we’ve built trust and a strong reputation in our market.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

The idea for Moonlight Mocktails actually started during a very personal and exciting time in my life—when my wife was pregnant with our first child. Like many new dads-to-be, I was thinking about how I could provide more for my growing family. I wanted to create something meaningful, something that could start as a side hustle but had the potential to grow. That’s when the concept for Moonlight Mocktails first came to mind.

Mocktails became a popular thing amongst my friend group. We always found ways to enjoy good, non-alcoholic drinks. But I realized there was nothing out there that really made mocktails feel special or elevated at events. I knew I had the vision to build the brand, design the setups, and create the experience—but I also knew I needed someone who could bring real expertise when it came to the drinks themselves. More importantly, I needed someone I could trust, who had the same hustle, passion, and drive.

So I brought the idea to my brother just to pick his brain. I was tossing around thoughts, and he stopped me and said, “You need to talk to Ali.” Ali Jaffer was a close family friend, someone I knew of but hadn’t yet considered for this. He had over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, and the more I thought about it, the more it made perfect sense. We met, talked about the vision, and honestly—it was like a match made in heaven. The energy clicked right away.

Ali brought exactly what was missing: creativity, experience, and a passion for crafting drinks that people would love. Since then, we’ve built everything together, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner on this journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.moonlightmocktails.com
• Instagram: @moonlight_mocktails
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/moonlight-mocktails-walnut