Ironside Whiskey Lounge - Portland, Maine

Ironside's intimate setting and mighty collection of top shelf whiskies make it a must-visit.

After Dan, Robbie and I finished our visit to Independent Ice Company and escaped from the visiting Florida swingers' club, we made a visit to one of Portland's newest whiskey bars, the Ironside Whiskey Lounge at the Portland Regency Hotel.

Ironside Whiskey Lounge
Portland Regency Hotel & Spa
20 Milk St.
Portland, ME
(207) 774-4200

Ironside is a lobby bar just off to the right of the Regency's front Lobby. Their selection isn't as large as Independent Ice's, but it's rich enough for any connoisseur; there are dozens of top-shelf bourbons, ryes, Scotch and Irish Whiskies behind the bar. For certain, you're sure to find some things at Ironside that you're unlikely to find anywhere else.

Having a laugh with Robbie.

As we had at the previous stop, we started off with a neat pour from Ironside's menu.  This time we chose a Larceny Barrel Strength, which Dan and I had missed out on when it was available in liquor stores in the spring. While we savored our first pour we enjoyed the Lounge's relaxing atmosphere and resumed our conversation and getting to know the place.

Our bartender there was Liz, who was fun and engaging to talk to and clearly knew her stuff when it comes to whiskey, as evidenced by the Stave and Thief Pin she wore, signifying that she is a Certified Bourbon Steward. 

Our afternoon outing was on the early side, so the bar was quiet but there was one other customer there having a drink alone at the bar. We felt a little bad about monopolizing Liz's time, so when it came time for the cocktail round we invited the lady to join us and bought her a drink too. Turns out she was a school administrator from Colorado who had been to Maine once before with her mom, and now was returning alone after her mom's passing. We shared some tips about how to enjoy Portland the way locals do, and of course recommended a few spots to eat and drink! She shared a few stories of her own, and just a little of the stresses of being a school administrator in the wake of the pandemic. 

Ironside's Smoked Maple Old Fashioned, Straight Up.

Liz recommended Ironside's Smoked Maple Old Fashioned, so we continued our smoke and whiskey theme with this gem.  Liz makes it with 1/2 Knob Creek Smoked Maple, 1/2 Knob Creek 9-year-old, and Free Brothers orange bitters.  

It's a very tasty cocktail - sweet and smoky enough, but not overpoweringly so. I think the 50/50 mix of the flavored whiskey and straight bourbon is what gives it such good balance. As a rule, I am not a flavored whiskey drinker, but I would absolutely order the Smoked Maple Old Fashioned again for my next visit.

All good things eventually come to an end, and we had to get back to Fourth of July weekend proceedings at our respective homes, but we'll definitely return to Ironside very soon.

Hopefully, we'll meet you there! We definitely recommend Ironside as a quiet and intimate spot to enjoy an excellent whiskey cocktail, or a neat pour of that scarce spirit you've been wanting to try.  

-Cheers!