The Independent Ice Co.

My wife and I visited here a few years ago and really enjoyed the Independent Ice company. We came back this week and it was even better than the first time. The staff is exceptional, truly knowledgeable, and they make you feel like family when you’re there. The selection of whiskey is absolutely amazing and the knowledge they have about each whiskey is also incredible. The food is excellent also. All the way around, an amazing experience. This business will always be a favorite of ours.

We arrived late in Portland and were looking for a nightcap. Happened on this place and we were so glad we walked in. Fantastic drinks, I had the smoky Manhattan, but all our drinks were perfection. Wonderful and attentive service, our waiter was amazing. Great atmosphere. Very sophisticated, no rowdy crowd. This looks to be one of the few nice places that is open past 10 pm on a Sunday. Would come back here anytime! We didn't eat anything here as we had gotten food earlier on the road, so I can't comment on the food.

Browsing the cobblestone alley before setting our sights on this place. At first it was because their outdoor seating looked inviting, but later it was because their simple menu seemed perfect for a drink & a snack. We were the first customers to be seated outdoors, as they were just opening up at 4pm. It quickly filled up soon after. The waiter was super attentive and friendly, informative too as he was telling us the exact farm from where they sourced the honey. The twisted mule was strong but firm (if that's even the right word to describe a drink?). Husband quickly got to his happy place. The board was fantastic. The honey and cheese and grapes and bread combination surprisingly worked really well. And they gave you fat chunks of it too... to remind you to gobble up the finer things in life. Definitely give this place a try if you are looking for a well made drink.

Outstanding! Went for the Bourbon Whiskey Selection (5 pages!). Tried a flight and the bar person brought the flight and each bottle on the flight and walked us through each Bourbon. Same with the singles! Then we snacked our way through our visit with some of the best home-made pimento cheese and crackers and charcuterie. Topped the exquisite visit with their Bread Pudding.

Remember that line from Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner": "Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink"? Well, Independent Ice is totally the same, but it's bourbon and whiskey everywhere and you actually can drink it. Not all at once, obvs, because your liver would want to shoot you with a crossbow as if you were a tipsy albatross. You get the idea, though. They've got a lot of bourbon. Go for a Mainer flight. The staff is super friendly and knows what's what from whiskey. Small plates available.

A wonderful place, great staff working very hard on a busy street. Good selection of bourbon, I'm a snitch person and want disappointed. Food good, clearly more pub food than fine dining but you won't be disappointed.

This was our first restaurant we got to enjoy in Portland! Food was very good. We got the steak with fries and the lobster cheese tortellini and finished it all. The bread pudding was so good we almost went back for that another night. Highly recommend. The bartender made our time there very memorable as he took his time describing each bourbon in the flight, despite being very busy. My fiance loves bourbon and he was able to try things other restaurants wouldn’t dream of having. Great experience!

Honestly, I don't even like whiskey and went because a friend loves it but I loved the place! Beautiful bar, super welcoming staff, got a whiskey cocktail that I actually really enjoyed and the food was delicious. We will definitely be back!

Outstanding! Went for the Bourbon Whiskey Selection (5 pages!). Tried a flight and the bar person brought the flight and each bottle on the flight and walked us through each Bourbon. Same with the singles! Then we snacked our way through our visit with some of the best home-made pimento cheese and crackers and charcuterie. Topped the exquisite visit with their Bread Pudding.

Headed out to celebrate our wedding anniversary and had heard good things about Independent Ice so asked to go there. Parking for Wharf St is either on street, none available, or parking garage conveniently located across Union Street. Entrance is a little difficult to locate due to lack of lighting. It's close to Union St but on Wharf. Hostess with a smile greeted us and sat us in a corner booth as per our request as there were a few options of tour party of 3. We were seated in the corner booth, given menus and water poured into the glasses. With in 5 minutes our server came to take care of us. I had lots of questions since I like spirits, whiskey and am curious about what is out there. They have a HUGE selection of whiskeys and bourbons so easy to get lost. Sadly, the menu for these things is huge and does not give any description as to flavor or smoothness, just where they are made and how much a half and full pour is. The whiskey flight caught my eye as I am looking for a new whiskey in addition the my favorite Jamesons. When I asked the server he said the Maine flight sucks! OK, then asked about the two other flight menus and was given the names I can clearly see in the wall menu, no further information was given. We ordered our drinks, Espresso martini listed in their Happy Hour menu, a Prosecco, two Jamesons Black barrel, a light beer and a ginger ale chaser. Food menu was good with a few options for appetizers, salads/soup, entrees, and desserts. Having read reviews and previewing the menu ordered the Whipped Ricotta with honey and Wasabi peas. Smash burger, Tortellini with chicken, and when it was my turn to order I responded with the Southern Chicken. As I read the description saw a few red flags for spicy. When I said hold on, to see if I wanted the other chicken sandwich, this clearly was an inconvenience for him evidenced by the audible sigh and eye roll! OK I'll take the sandwich don't want to rock his boat. While waiting for our food, two of the three of us finished their drinks. Waiter was no where to be seen for 4 minutes, when he did surface at the back of the building, we had to wait while he had a texting conversation at the end of the bar. This took an additional 4 minutes then he attended his other tables, cleared our appetizer plates and walked off. Came back for our second round and again I am looking to try something new. I asked what has a smooth buttery finish, he rambled of a bunch of names and said "you are looking for something that was toasted in the barrel". Great! Oh wait not so much, the menu doesn't give you that information so again another opportunity for an up sell missed. I asked about the West Cork whiskey, he took out his phone and started scrolling and scrolling with no further information for me to try it. "It's not as good as Jameson". OK I'll stick with what I always get and have given up. A wall full of whiskeys and bourbons and the reason for our visit has been defeated. Food came out hot and was very good. French fries were exceptional. When we were done, our server took up a conversation with someone at the bar and stood with his back to us as our plates are being piled up. Hostess ended up clearing our plates and getting our to go container. After finishing his conversation at the bar, he was very happy to give our check for us to leave. Not sure why we were given this kind of service, but he missed an opportunity for up sells three times. Show interest in your customers. Sadly disappointed and will not be back. Service was terrible and made us feel like an inconvenience. Tipped well even though the service was lacking because the Food was very good. ***Please note that they state in their whiskey menu that their pours are NOT normal pours; one ounce pour here is only .75 and full pour is not a full 2 ounces but 1.5.

I had done a food tour earlier in the day so didn't want a full meal, more just a few snacky things. One of our stops on the tour was Rigby Yard and they told us about The Independent Ice, which was connected to RY. So I strolled over there for some snacks and drinks! When you think of a whiskey bar, this is the exact vibe you'd imagine. Dark moody wood, big leather booths, nice stools. AWESOME whiskey menu, basically a giant whiskey bible! I did a few whiskey cocktails which were delicious. For snacks, the bartender raved about the whipped ricotta and honestly that whipped ricotta had no business being as good as it was! One of my favorite bites during my trip to Portland! I also got the mixed olives which were yummy too. The place was pretty empty on a weekday evening so I just shot the shit with the bartender and another guy that was sitting at the bar. Had a great time!

Came here for dinner on Sunday and had a nice meal. We were seated at the bar. The inside has a nice atmosphere for hanging out and getting a meal. The bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly. I ordered the cheese tortellini with meatballs and really enjoyed it! It was very cheesy and meatballs were tasty. The portion was very large and I was able to take leftovers home. Overall a really lovely time!

Expertly made unique craft cocktails. Friendly service. Relaxed atmosphere that's warm and inviting. The banana bread old fashioned is heavenly. We liked it so much we tried to go back the next day to get it again. We also really enjoyed the Vieux Carre that our server recommended. If you are a Bourbon/Whiskey fan, add this place to your list.

Had a nice evening as a b-day celebration...did appetizers and several of the local offerings. The whipped ricotta appetizer is not to be missed. Great service and a truly memorable night.

Such a cool place! Went here with my girlfriends recently for a snack and some cocktails and we had a great time. The space is moody and dark, very beautiful. Cocktails are strong but since they are mostly whiskey based I anticipated that. We shared a charcuterie board and the whipped ricotta, both excellent and paired well with the drinks. Service was friendly and our server was very knowledgeable about the drinks. They even have some mocktails for non drinkers which is always a plus. Will be back again for sure.

A return visit to a favorite. Went for a light supper after traveling from home to Freeport and then to Portland. It wasn't too busy when we arrived on a Sunday night but the people started coming. I had a Rufus Page Old Fashioned with the Kale and Arugula salad. Hubs had a Sam Adam's either Maine Lobster role. Delish. We like the ambiance and were seated in a corner booth overlooking the whole bar. Our only problem was that the place is dark and had to use our phones to see the menu. Getting older, I guess!

This place is fricking awesome. There are 500+ varieties of bourbon and whiskey and, of all places Maine, a restaurant to get exquisite shrimp and grits. If you're in Portland and you don't go here, you're just not that bright. Go here. Enjoy it for the cocktails and the food. Simply awesome.

Best place in Portland!!! You have to come here. Bartender is kind and makes amazing cocktails. Happy hour is crazy good deal. Put this on your Portland list. Sit at the bar. Warm. Inviting. DRINK.

We went to Maine to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary and after a good review on Yelp's that lead us to this great place. Doug was our server and he was under staffed but he took great care of us. He recommended a whiskey flight from Maine that was fantastic. We ordered just appetizers and loved them all. The place has a very cool vibe that makes this old ice house a fantastic spot to enjoy drinks food and friends in a cool place. Would recommend hands down.

Charming space on such a charming street. We went for a late dinner on a weeknight and had no trouble getting a table. The service was attentive and the waiter gave great recommendations from the bourbon list. We had steak frites and the center cut filet and both dishes were delicious. Great night out!

Listen, I love bourbon. I have been to many whiskey bars. So when I saw pics of this place online I knew I had to visit - and it did not disappoint. I have never seen a library of whiskey as large as this. If you can think of it, chances are they have it. We went right when they opened and sat at the bar. The man tending to us was very knowledgeable but had no personality. Super dry and not very conversational. But I didn't come here to hang out, I came to try some rare bourbons!! The inside is very nice. Warm and inviting. They offer flights which is a great way to try multiple bottles. It worked out great but they are so overpriced. I've never seen prices as high as this place. If their prices were more reasonable I would return no hesitation. But as it is I'm not sure I'd go back. Maybe just get one pour next time. Food was good. We didn't order anything crazy. I also got an old fashioned and love how they stamp the ice - so cool! If you love bourbon you have to stop in, even if it is pricey, the experience is something you can't pass over.

I effing loved this place! If I could have given it more stars I would. Known for its whiskey, they have amazing cocktails that aren't overpowering for someone new to whiskey, like myself. I had the whiskey smash, which is like a mojito but with whiskey, and my wife had some banana nut drink which she loved. It was just the right amount of sweet without being a dessert drink. For dinner I had the shrimp and grits. It was a very simple preparation, but executed to perfection. My wife had the steak sandwich and said it was one of the best she'd ever had. Our bartender was fantastic and took care of us when her sandwich same out slightly wrong. He went above and beyond without needing, which was amazing. You can tell these guys here really pride themselves in a fantastic experience. Everything was done with care and excellence.

The perfect place to go if you live bourbon! I definitely need to come back here and talk to the super knowledgeable staff and learn a thing or two. Ambience- super fun and the staff know a ton about bourbon 9/10 (it's just small but a cool spot) Food- 7/10 really pretty good! Got the burger- it was *super* juicy and first bite I thought "man! This is a great burger!" But then I kept going- I'm going to get a little critical here please don't mind me: - I think the burger is so close to being phenomenal, it may be slightly too fatty (I know, unpopular opinion) & they went for a like smoked/cured maple bacon chutney over their patty- here's why I didn't like it: - the burger patty wasn't seasoned because the bacon mashup held all the salt & intense flavor - the bacon topping was lumped in the middle & not spread around so it was a mix of bland & overpowering bites I think they were trying to add texture with the bacon and go for the bacon-jam idea but with a fresh spin on it, I think if they did a smoked bacon jam spread evenly on the bun and a crispy lettuce instead of shredded they'd get the crunch they want & the sweet Smokey more evenly dispersed. Add a little salt to the patty and that's one bomb burger!! Fries were pretty good, a mix of crunchy and soft so something for everyone Cocktaisl/drinks- 10/10? My husband got the Paper Plane and said it was the best he's ever had

Came here on a Friday night with a party of six and got seated pretty quickly outside since they don't have much space for larger groups inside. Our server was alright, not rude, but felt a little rushed and didn't really give off the friendliest vibes. I had the maple cider mule, which was delicious, and their charcuterie board was very yummy. Overall, this place can be a hit or miss depending on the night.

So many delicious bourbons to choose from. Great pub food. But the bourbons...they have everything. Great service too.

The brownest bar around. Not referring to the patrons. Check out the pages and pages of brown liquor. Great place to close out the night.

i can only review the bar area as we stopped in for a pre dinner drink, we did not have dinner. we entered the beautiful bar area and enjoyed reviewing the almost limitless amount of bourbons on the menu. greeted as soon as we entered we sat in a cozy booth along the wall. i had an expresso martini and he had an aged bourbon. great atmosphere, friendly people, fun menu and prompt service made this a great stop for us!

The whipped ricotta appetizer is to die for! The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable behind the bar. Love the ambience. This will be our first stop when we go back to Portland.

Just happened to walk into this place on a rainy day in Portland. The wall of Whiskey was an overwhelmingly amazing sight to see. Every Bourbon you can think of. After talking to the bartender, "sorry I can't remember his name" , but he was extremely helpful and knew about every one, I settled on EH Taylor small batch bottled in bond. It was a wise choice. We were hungry as well and decided to try the double smash burger and Caesar salad. Let me just say I was not expecting how good they were. This is not just simple whiskey bar food if that's even a thing. It was possibly the best burger we have ever had. Candied bacon and cooked to perfection. The salad was also amazing. We went back again the next day after eating more lobster and needed something savory. Service was great and the food was delicious.

I really enjoy going to independent ice and sitting outside. It's definitely me and my boyfriends go to place in the Old Port because of the decent pricing, good drinks, and the outdoor area (for people watching lol). I always enjoy this dish and my boyfriend always orders the cheesesteak.

Great ambience. Went for drinks and dessert. The bread pudding was delicious, caramel, cinnamon and bourbon.

We visited the independent ice for a last minute date night. Ended up sitting right at the bar. The bartender was extremely knowledgeable and personable. He provided great service while also allowing us plenty of time to talk. The food was delicious, top-notch. I had one of the most delicious fillets I've ever experienced.

Definitely stop in!! Cole the bartender was incredible, excellent bar knowledge and customer service. The patrons were all incredible, there was basically one big conversation among everyone and they got a stranger who had one too many to an Uber and hotel room because everyone wanted to make sure he got there safe. The decor and ambiance is amazing and they played old 90s early 00s music. I'm really glad we found it. And the chocolate lava cake was perfection although I heard the fried ice cream is even better?! Extensive bourbon collection

This five star review is truly making me rethink all other five star reviews I've given; without a doubt, I highly recommend The Independent Ice - particularly for whiskey and bourbon lovers. It was a very rainy day in Portland, so my husband and I - after a long roadtrip - holed up in The Independent Ice for several hours and had a fantastic time. First, their selection of whiskey, bourbon, scotch, etc. is unparalleled. They have a fantastic menu that explains different types of drinks, the rarity, how they are made and recommendations. Next, their service is fantastic. John was so fun to chat with - from chatting about drinks, difference between brands, etc. to just chatting about random things - he was such a pleasure! My husband and I would travel back to Portland simply to go back!

I ordered some food from here and ate it in my hotel room across the street. The food was decent. They threw in a bunch of rolls and biscuits, which were actually pretty great. I had the shaved sirloin hoagie, which was basically a cheesesteak with a fancy name. It was good, but very greasy, greasier than I'd expect for the attempts at it being fancier. I'm saying there are places in Philly that are holes in a wall that have less grease on the sandwich. The meat was good, and they used an excellent roll. The fries were magnificent. The Kennebec potato? I think that is what it was called, seems to be made specifically for fries, and it shined. Crisp outside, super soft inside. The way I'd want fries to be. Side caesar salad was good. The dressing seemed house-made.

This was our second trip to Independent Ice and it's always worth the visit. The bartenders are super knowledgable of the whiskies and have a great whiskey flight. Their cocktails are top notch!

This is a really cool place with a great atmosphere and an incredible selection of whiskey and bourbon. They do need to add more help as John at the bar was a little overwhelmed. Had to ask for everything we wanted two or three times (politely) before we got it with a little bit of attitude. He poured a Prosecco, let it sit there for 10 minutes and then when we reminded him he never gave it to us, he gave my lady a warm flat Prosecco. All he had to do was pour another one when he realized his mistake. Top shelf prices, bottom shelf service.

Very cool little spot that could literally do well in any city. Great selection of local whiskeys with some hand selected flights to try more than one. Have a nice outdoor space on a good street for people watching in town. Waitress was nice and very helpful. Stopped in before having dinner so only tried one of the appetizers which was absolutely stellar. I'm sure you can't go wrong with most of the things here based on what we had and saw. Would definitely stop through if you are considering it!

So delicious with such a moody ambiance. The food was great, service was great, ambience was great. Bathrooms are clean. They are open late which is very convenient. The whipped ricotta is a MUST (coming from someone who has never liked ricotta).

Fun Whiskey bar! Really good cocktails with a wall full of over 100 different types of whiskey, scotch, and bourbon. We decided to get espresso martinis since it was after dinner and wanted the banana bread pudding, but unfortunately they had changed the menu and had tiramisu instead. Still very good but was excited for the bread pudding. The food coming from the kitchen looked delicious! Would recommend for any whiskey lovers for sure.

Our first trip to this super spot. Dozens of bourbons, many distilled only in Maine & not available elsewhere! Friendly staff very knowledgeable bartenders. Great spot for a before or after dinner sip

Stopped in to Independence Ice for cocktails during our trip to Portland. Not only is it a great bourbon/whiskey bar, but the ambience is very cool. Bartenders and waitstaff are very friendly. If you like old fashions - I highly recommend the Rufus Page Old Fashioned or the Banana Bread Old Fashioned. Both award winners.

Very fun location and atmosphere, LeStat was awesome and answered all of our questions and was attentive and friendly! Our drinks were wonderful, especially the seasonal slush and his recommendations were spot on. Local bourbons were very smooth and tasty.

This was my favorite bar while visiting Maine. Unfortunately, they didn't have space inside since their bar was beautiful, and sitting in the area would have been lovely. From the host to our server, the staff delivers great customer service. We felt welcome here, and our server kept checking us and making sure everything was good. Solid, crafted cocktails and a great bourbon menu.

This is a whiskey only bar so if you love whiskey then this is your place to go while in Portland. They have an assortment of cocktails and whiskey tastings to appeal to every whiskey lover. Great spot for a casual drink with friends. Casual and relaxed atmosphere.

This is the bar my wife and I hang out at every time we're in Portland and looking for drinks. Huge bourbon selection, great drinks, and extremely knowledgeable bartender. Food is also quite good. But it's also just a great atmosphere with all the bourbon/whiskey bottles on the wall, and friendly staff. We also like that there's no TV's. That might not be for everyone, but here it gets staff and customers to interact.

We came here after learning it's one of the top 10 bourbon bars in America. When walking in my first impression was: How swanky! It was pretty quiet when we first arrived, but before you know it people starting flowing in. We came here for happy hour, which they had amazing deals. The bartender was super observant, welcoming and had attention to detail. I had the Pike Pole Bourbon Sangria, I don't traditionally like bourbon but I LOVED my drink. I ventured out to a few other cocktails and I wasn't disappointed. Everyone can find something to sip on here.

What a cool spot! Let me tell you about the whiskey selection, holy moly, what a variety! The sticky ribs were delicious, along with the buffalo cauliflower. Excellent portion size for the price too! The cocktails were tasty! Recommend this, 10 out 10!!

Guys are awesome, well versed, friendly and make killer cocktails. Do a maine flight... Wings are awesome, breadpudding and bourbon. Great time.

My wife and I enjoyed a splendid late afternoon respite at The Independent Ice Co.. Our bartender was a master. It was happy hour, so we got a great deal on two top-notch draft cocktails: Jack Grapple Black Manhattan and Pike Pole Bourbon Sangria). Famished, we also ordered an exceptional charcuterie and cheese board that I am still thinking about days later. The soppressata was amazing, as were the cheese selections and blueberry mustard. The bar itself (and the whisky selections) was so impressive. A must visit.

What a great find in a charming alley a few steps from our hotel in Portland. This bar is very unique with an unlimited supply of whiskey and bourbon. This is not my typical bar but I really enjoyed my drink concocted by an expert bartender. Death & Taxes was rather strong and much more of a sipping drink vs a fruity cocktail that disappears quickly. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and my drink. They made a smoky old fashioned that was really cool to watch them pour. Like a mini show in a Blanton's bottle. Totally worth coming by for a drink when in the city!

With tons of downtown Portland restaurants packed to the gills and tables not adhering to the 6' distance protocol, I wanted out. But Independent came up as we strolled the cobblestone streets on Wharf St. and noticed their large outdoor seating area. Since we were in the area already, we just went ahead with it. Menu is basic. Hubs decided on a Cheese+Charcuterie board which I cut cheese pieces as far possible from the meat. According to hubs, the salami tasted like stuff you get at the supermarket deli counter and prosciutto didn't taste fresh. Even when it was placed on our table, the grapes looked shriveled and we didn't touch 'em- but at least the sliced baguette was fresh and tomato jam? I've had better- this was like sweet Ragu sauce. The entire board wasn't legit. At. All. The host and our server had top-notch, friendly vibes though. But our host didn't know the names of most of the cheeses on our board. These folks look like they have a lot going for them especially with all this space. But the one item we got, lacked.

Had a great time at Independent on a Monday night. Bar service was excellent. They had a great selection of whiskey's and, as the name might suggest, the ice was top notch!

If they don't have the whisky or bourbon you like there are certainly many other wonderful choices. Our bartender was great. Amazing how fast he prepared everything. We had cocktails and a cheese platter. What else do you need.

I came in last week a few days before the New Year so that weird week after Christmas we're everyone is on vacation and wants to be out in the Old Port. So it was fairly busy when we arrived. I put our name down and we only had to wait about ten minutes before a table opened up for us. As we were waiting though the owner walked in. He greeted us with a smile and asked if we had been helped. He apologized for any delay, we assured him we had been helped and didn't mind waiting in the least. After we sat down our server came over to take our order. I was the only one in my party who had been there before so I knew what I wanted, the Rosemary Sour. The other two in my party were a little overwhelmed by the menu but our server gave some great recommendations and returned with the Euphemia Fenno's Bourbon Smash and the Pike Pole Bourbon Sangria. Both drinks got rave reviews. For an appetizer the table went with the classic Kennebec fries which never disappoint. For entrees we went with the pork chop and cheese tortellini with chicken. Oh my god that pork chop rivaled the one from Fore Street, it was insane. And the tortellini looked delicious. This place remains one of my favorite Portland establishments. I never have a bad time here. The food is consistently good, staff always kind, attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is welcoming to all. Highly highly recommend.

Got a burger and old fashioned and loved every second of it. Would definitely recommend. We came later and they were able to accommodate me and my boyfriend.

This is a great bar to visit to get a flight of whiskey, scotch or bourbon. I sat at the bar and Cole was the bartender that day and he has a plethora of knowledge about the different spirits they carry.