What can I say... A friend and I stumbled on this place probably 10 or more years ago. What made it…read morespecial to ME was that they had "Gentleman Jack" at the bar. I've been to really upscale bars that didn't offer this fine spirit.
So now, fastforward to 2010, and my wife and I are out RV'ing. You know, pick-up and travel trailer. We arrived in Belmont on a Thursday with the hopes of stopping at "Indian Maggie's" (formerly the Monitor Inn, it seems) for a Gentleman Jack Manhattan. Silly us, because nothing is open until Friday, and even THEN, most places are closed (due, I think, to our being here in mid-September, long after normal 'tourist' season). One local we ran into assured us the bar would be open on Friday, sometime after noon.
So, being in NO rush, we found the unpublished "Belmont Campground" nearby and set up for the night. After all, the whole reason for this return visit was to have our cherished Gentleman Jack Manhattan - IN BELMONT!
We hiked back into town from the campground on Friday, early afternoon, and sure enough, the bar was open. I love the sign outside that announces "Cold Beer, Wild Stories, Fine Spirits, and Good Cigars". We sidled up to the bar, and the owner, a crusty old gent who's name I embarrassingly forget, took our order. "Two Gentleman Jack Manhattans". Yup, he still had GJ, but had to get a flashlight out to find it under the bar. He hauled out an unopened bottle, dust covered, and wiped it off, Good as new!
I asked how he made his Manhattans (because we've found a lot of bartenders who really DON'T know how to make a proper Manhattan!) and he just said, "Well, according to the gentleman we keep this stuff for, I just pour a bunch of this in the glass, then add sweet vermouth until it's the right color". I though "Uh oh...". BUT, he made magnificent Manhattans! And uh, healthy ones at that.
So while we're sitting there sipping our drinks and talking with the gentleman, in walks another local and the bartender automatically opens a beer and hands it to him. And right behind him comes another local, who also has beer handed to him. This is obviously the local meeting place - for the town men anyway. And these guys are a crack-up! We listened and laughed all afternoon. Even got invited into the conversation (and to a pot luck dinner that would be going on after 6 that evening).
Another lady drove up, walked in, and ordered a beer. Wifey and I talked with her for almost an hour. She ended up having TWO beers, then moved on. Three other gents drove up, came in and had a couple beers, then left. How do so many people just happen BY here?
So we're having SUCH a good time with these folks, we order up another pair of GJ Manhattans, never bothering to ask how much they are (because, after all, we're on vacation and don't CARE how much...!). Plus, we're walking, so 'impaired driving" is not an issue. And with THESE Manhattans, it WOULD be an issue - ha.
Three hours later, we're still sitting there having a HELL of a good time. Too bad this place isn't closer to home (Carson City) cuz we'd be here a lot.
So, bottom line is, if you're anywhere NEAR Belmont on a Friday, or weekend, ya gotta stop here! It's the stuff stories are made of (as the sign says on the outside - ha).
Oh, and if you want to know how to tell a local from a tourist at the bar? Locals all have a toothpick in their mouth. We tourists show up 'toothpick free'.
