Scone Spy: We're in high spirits at Jo Jo's Coffee Shop, Aberdeen

Scone Spy is in high spirits this week – literally!

There’s only one thing this reviewer loves as much as scones and that’s a wee gin snifter. So imagine the surprise on arrival at JoJo’s Coffee Shop in the heart of the Granite City to find delicious scone choices more than matched by that of the favourite tipple.

Welcome to G & Tea – afternoon tea served with a gin and tonic. This offering comes with a staggering choice of gins, and the most tempting of savoury and sweet treats, including scones.

The gin choices are endless, from gin liqueurs (Ellon strawberry gin liqueur, rhubarb and ginger, elderflower, bramble and honey, pink grapefruit and lemongrass, gingerbread pomegranate and rose, Parma violet, lemon sherbet) to Teasmith, Edinburgh or Gordon’s (standard or pink) gins. Here your gin-based tea party will set you back £18.

It includes a mind-blowing selection of bread with fillings such as chicken tikka and sweet chilli chicken, goat’s cheese, bacon and BBQ jackfruit. And then there are sweet treats galore – perfectly presented mini deserts, cakes and tray bakes – all truly scrumptious.

And the scones were great – plain, fruit, apple and cinnamon, and raspberry with white chocolate. We went for the latter. Manager Phil Meghigans was pulling the scones from the oven just as we arrived at the cafe, set on a cobblestone street, a few steps from Aberdeen Art Gallery, His Majesty’s Theatre and the historic Marischal College, and some of the best shopping in town.

Thanks to super swift waitresses Eva Crawford-McKee and Jess Mustoe our order arrived at the table still warm. Large and light with just the right hint of raspberry and white chocolate, the scone came with a cream and the café’s own Black Forest and Belgian Chocolate jam. The whole combo was heaven sent.

JoJo’s – winner of Aberdeen Business Awards Best Cafe 2021 – certainly knows how to keep clients happy, amiably assisted by its gins.

That’s the spirit, Jojo’s!