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A lettered sign reading The Strong Water Co mounted on a timber-clad gable beneath a slate roof
Aberdeenshire

The Strong Water Co

The Strong Water Co.'s whisky shop on Bridge Street in Ballater, lined floor to ceiling with bottles, with a tasting room and weekly tastings.

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Welcome

On Bridge Street in Ballater, a few steps from the square, the Strong Water Co. opened its second shop in 2025, and gave it over to whisky.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

It belongs to the brothers Guy and Mungo Finlayson, who began with a wine and spirits shop in Banchory.

The room is lined with timber shelves from floor to ceiling, every one of them filled with bottles: single malts from across Scotland and beyond, alongside gin, other spirits, fine wine and craft beer. There is a dedicated tasting room, and the brothers are always happy to talk you through a dram.

Every Thursday at six there is a whisky tasting at Craigendarroch, just above the village. The shop opens from Tuesday to Sunday, and it sends bottles all over the world. Royal Lochnagar, the distillery by Balmoral, is a short drive up the Dee.

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Before you go

Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, 11am to 4pm.

A whisky tasting runs every Thursday at 6pm at Craigendarroch.

Where
2 Bridge Street, Ballater.
Telephone
01330 538070.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10am–6pm
Wednesday
10am–6pm
Thursday
10am–6pm
Friday
10am–6pm
Saturday
10am–6pm
Sunday
11am–4pm

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Where it is

At 2 Bridge Street in the middle of Ballater.

Close byBallater.
  1. ÖSLEY's granite front on Bridge Street, Ballater, a navy sign above the door.ÖSLEYUnder a mile 1 min by road
  2. Cappuccino and sliced cake on a wooden table in a caféBridge House CaféA family-run café on Bridge Street in Ballater for brunch, lunch, deli items and home bakes, open Thursday to Monday, and friendly to dogs.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. Fish Shop Restaurant, AberdeenshireFish Shop RestaurantA seafood restaurant and fishmonger in the village.Under a mile 1 min by road
  4. Balmoral ArmsBalmoral ArmsUnder a mile 1 min by road
  5. Casks stencilled Royal Lochnagar Distillery stacked in the warehouse.Royal Lochnagar DistilleryA small distillery by Balmoral, founded in 1845.9 miles 14 min by road
  6. A bottle of the Strong Water Co.'s own whisky held up at its Banchory shopfront.The Strong Water CoIts first shop, on Banchory's High Street.23 miles 31 min by road
Directions
Stone arched bridge crossing a river below forested hills in autumnAttractionsBallater0.2 miles
The granite front of the Deeside Deli on Bridge Street, Ballater, flowers hanging by its windows.ShoppingDeeside Deli & Garden Shop0.2 miles
The Albert Memorial Hall, with a red telephone box outside its turreted stone facadeRestaurantsLunch and a Wander in Ballater0.2 miles
Ballater Golf Course, AberdeenshireAttractionsBallater Golf Course0.4 miles
Darroch Learg, AberdeenshireBallaterDarroch LeargPlace to stay · 0.8 miles
Old gravestones in the round kirkyard at Tullich among trees, the ruined kirk wall behind.AttractionsTullich Kirkyard and its carved stones1.7 miles
Knock Castle, AberdeenshireAttractionsKnock Castle1.9 miles
Cambus O'May Suspension Bridge, AberdeenshireAttractionsCambus o’ May Suspension Bridge3.9 miles
Inverenzie Cottage, AberdeenshireBallaterInverenzie CottageSleeps 4 · 4.7 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the shop, and when each is next free.

Darroch Learg, AberdeenshireDarroch Learg
  • A hotel
  • In Ballater
  • Under a mile from the Strong Water Co.
Check datesInverenzie Cottage, AberdeenshireInverenzie Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Ballater
  • 4 miles from the Strong Water Co.
Free 4–6 NovTwo grey linen sofas face each other across a dark wooden coffee table, checked roman blinds at the windows and a framed landscape print on the wall.Old School Cottage
  • Sleeps 7
  • In Ballater
  • 6 miles from the Strong Water Co.
Free 5–7 NovA wooden table and chairs with green cushions stand on a stone patio beside a gabled stone house, a lawn stretching in front.Laggan Cottage
  • Sleeps 8
  • In Ballater
  • 6 miles from the Strong Water Co.
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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