The Sourtoe Cocktail: A Tale of Courage, Curiosity, and a Severed Toe
Welcome to the world of peculiar drinks, where one cocktail dares to tread on the strange and macabre: the Sourtoe Cocktail. Served with a preserved human toe, this unusual concoction is not just a drink; it’s an experience steeped in history, daring, and a touch of the grotesque.
Whether you’re a thrill-seeking traveller or just curious about bizarre beverages, the story of the Sourtoe Cocktail will captivate you.
Let’s dive into the origins, evolution, and current state of this toe-tally unique cocktail.
What is the Sourtoe Cocktail?
The Sourtoe Cocktail is not your average drink. This infamous cocktail is served with a dehydrated human toe, which floats in the glass as you sip.
The cocktail can be made with any drink of your choice—most commonly Yukon Gold Whiskey—served in a shot glass. But here’s the catch: to complete the Sourtoe challenge, your lips must touch the toe.
The drink’s motto is simple yet chilling:
“You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips have gotta touch the toe.”
The Origins: From Frostbite to Folklore
The story of the Sourtoe Cocktail begins in the 1920s with a Canadian rum runner named Louie Liken and his brother, Otto. While transporting illegal alcohol across the Yukon, Louie stepped into freezing water and developed severe frostbite.
To prevent gangrene, Otto amputated Louie’s toe and preserved it in a jar of alcohol. Fast forward to 1973, when Captain Dick Stevenson, a local character and bar owner in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, discovered the jar with the toe in a remote cabin.
Inspired by the discovery, Captain Dick brought the toe to the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City, where he dared patrons to drink a cocktail with the toe floating inside. And thus, the Sourtoe Cocktail Club was born, quickly gaining a reputation as one of the quirkiest challenges in the world.
How to Drink the Sourtoe Cocktail: The Rules and Rituals
Becoming a member of the Sourtoe Cocktail Club isn’t just about downing a drink—it’s about embracing a bizarre tradition.
Here’s how this wonderful tradition works:
1. Choose Your Drink: Any beverage will do, though most opt for whiskey.
2. The Toe Ceremony: A “Toe Captain” presents the toe, and it is ceremoniously dropped into your glass.
3. The Challenge: Drink your cocktail, ensuring that your lips touch the toe. No biting, swallowing, or otherwise damaging the toe is allowed (though accidents have happened!).
4. Membership Certificate: Successfully completing the challenge earns you a certificate and a place in the club, forever marking you as someone bold enough to have kissed the toe.
The Toes: Where Do They Come From?
You might wonder how the bar continues to serve toes after decades of this peculiar tradition. The Downtown Hotel relies on donations, with people offering their toes, often due to accidents or surgeries.
Image Source: PILOTGIRL/FLICKR
Each donor has a unique story, from frostbite victims to individuals who lost toes in accidents. The toes are preserved in salt for at least six months before they are deemed cocktail-ready.
There have been several toes over the years, and not all have survived. In 2013, a patron accidentally swallowed a toe, forcing the hotel to fine him $500. Luckily, new donations have kept the tradition alive. Incidentally, the current fine for swallowing a toe is a hefty $2,500.
The Location: Dawson City, Yukon, Canada – A Town Steeped in Gold Rush History
The Sourtoe Cocktail is exclusively served at the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. This small town, with a population of just over 1,300, is famous for its role in the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century. Known for its rugged landscape and rich history, Dawson City is a vibrant community that cherishes its quirky traditions and gold rush roots.
Image Source: Downtown Hotel/Booking.com
Beyond the Sourtoe Cocktail, visitors can explore gold panning, historic saloons, and the mesmerising Northern Lights. The Downtown Hotel itself is a charming, rustic establishment that celebrates its unique position in both Dawson City’s and the cocktail’s history.
It would be a sin to miss out on the fun so It’s worth noting, “Toe time” occurs nightly at the Downtown Hotel between 9p.m. and 11 p.m.
The Current State of the Sourtoe Cocktail: An Ever-Evolving Legend
As of the latest information, the Sourtoe Cocktail is alive and well, continuing to draw curious travellers from around the world. Despite occasional challenges—like the loss of toes or temporary halts due to health regulations—the tradition shows no signs of slowing down. Each year, hundreds of brave souls make the pilgrimage to Dawson City to join the ranks of the Sourtoe Cocktail Club.
Image Source: Downtown Hotel
The current Toe Captain (at the time of writing), Terry Lee, keeps the tradition going strong, ensuring that each ceremony retains its odd mix of humour, thrill, and respect for the toe. With over 100,000 members worldwide, the Sourtoe Cocktail is more than just a drink; it’s a rite of passage that connects people through a shared experience of adventure and audacity.
Is the Sourtoe Cocktail on Your Bucket List?
For the adventurous at heart, the Sourtoe Cocktail offers more than just bragging rights—it’s a story you’ll tell for the rest of your life.
Image Source: Downtown Hotel/Booking.com
Whether it’s the eerie history, the quirky club, or the thrill of kissing a severed toe, this cocktail is one of the most unforgettable drinking experiences in the world.
So, would you dare to kiss the toe? Remember, you can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips have gotta touch the toe!
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© Colin Lawson Books