Whisky & Ramen is known for innovative cocktails and I knew well in advance which one I wanted: the B.B. Part beverage, part high school chemistry experiment, it is a combination of Toki Whisky, pomegranate, passion fruit, L’Aperitivo Nonino, with a “citrus aromatic globe.' (Photo by Mara Severin) The couple seated next to us were also celebrating an anniversary. We were seated in the bar area at the back of the dining room - a cozy nook, with lower ceilings, and lower lights with a lively but more intimate feel. The space is sleek and hip, and as you walk down the stairs, it’s a bit like walking into a party. You enter onto the mezzanine, with the dining room below and the bird’s-eye view of the bustling space is a fun reveal. The restaurant makes a stunning first impression. A year in, I wondered if the shine was still on the apple. Whisky & Ramen opened in Anchorage last year to a lot of fanfare and an impenetrable reservation list. Granted, our reservation was for a time of night that typically sees me tucked into bed watching old episodes of “Frasier,” but I pregamed with a late-afternoon mocha, considering it a small price to pay for handmade noodles and fancy cocktails. Happily, the curse was recently lifted when I managed to secure a reservation that conveniently fell on my wedding anniversary. Apparently, the universe did not want me to eat the charred pork bao and Japanese-themed Scotch eggs that the rest of the city was raving about. A last-minute trip, an unexpected work conflict, and a bout with COVID had caused me to cancel all three. Over the last year, I had managed to secure three separate reservations at Whisky & Ramen, downtown Anchorage’s hottest new spot, and still had not managed to eat there. A view into the lower level at Whisky & Ramen in downtown Anchorage.

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