Every great lie begins with a seed of truth.

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The Sazerac Lying Club traces its origins to Austin, Nevada, in 1873. At the time, Fred H. Hart, editor of the Reese River Reveille, often found himself with little news to report from the quiet mining town.

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Hart soon discovered a far richer source of material at a local saloon known as The Sazerac. There, miners, laborers, and other townsfolk gathered to swap stories of adventure, hardship, and luck, each tale stretched just a little further beyond the truth than the last. The exaggerations were not meant to deceive, but to entertain, and the art of storytelling became a cherished tradition among the patrons.

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Fascinated by these colorful accounts, Hart began recording the finest tall tales shared within the saloon’s walls. From this tradition, the Sazerac Lying Club was born. Members proudly wore coats adorned with crossed hatchets, a symbol of their commitment to good-natured fabrication.

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The club maintained a strict code: lies were to be harmless and told solely for amusement. One of its most famous rules prohibited politicians from joining, reflecting the belief that the club’s falsehoods should exist only in the spirit of humor and camaraderie.

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Hart later immortalized the club and its legendary storytellers in his book, The Sazerac Lying Club, preserving the remarkable lies, yarns, and tall tales that made The Sazerac a local institution.

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Virginia City is now Lodge Number 2 of the Sazerac Lying Club. Come enjoy some tall tales on the Comstock.