Your Lips Must Touch The Toe

Sipping on the Unusual: The Sourtoe Cocktail Phenomenon in Dawson City, Yukon

In the rugged heart of Yukon’s north, Dawson City stands on the banks of the Yukon River, a former gold rush town where history and thrill-seeking collide in the form of the Sourtoe Cocktail. This unusual drink, served at the Downtown Hotel’s bar, has earned Dawson City the quirky honor of being home to “the world’s most disgusting cocktail.” This unexpected tourist magnet invites thousands from around the globe to take on its peculiar challenge.

The Rules of the Sourtoe Cocktail Club

More than 100,000 daring souls have attempted this iconic drinking ritual, earning membership to the eccentric Sourtoe Cocktail Club. But what makes it so unusual? Unlike anything else on the menu, the Sourtoe Cocktail is served with an actual preserved human toe floating in your choice of hard liquor. And there’s just one rule: “You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips must touch the toe.” Those who accept this eccentric challenge walk away not only with bragging rights but with a story they’ll likely share for a lifetime.

The Strange Origins of the Sourtoe Tradition

This cocktail legend traces back to Captain Dick Stevenson, who discovered a mummified toe in a mason jar in an abandoned cabin in 1973. Belonging to a gold miner named Louie Liken, the toe was reportedly amputated in the 1920s by Louie’s brother, Otto, using an ax during a booze-smuggling mishap on the Canada-U.S. border. Inspired, Stevenson and his friends turned this bizarre find into a drinking challenge, founding the now-famous Sourtoe Cocktail Club, which would go on to become an enduring symbol of Dawson City’s audacious character.

A Toe-Tally Bizarre History

Since then, the Sourtoe Cocktail has had its fair share of strange episodes. Perhaps the most infamous occurred in the 1980s, when one overly enthusiastic participant accidentally swallowed Louie’s original toe. To date, at least seven other toes have been swallowed, stolen, or otherwise lost—adding an odd twist to the cocktail’s history. The Downtown Hotel has, however, ensured the tradition’s survival by replacing each lost toe with generous donations from other individuals willing to give a toe to the cause.

The Sourtoe Cocktail: An Experience Like No Other

Today, the Sourtoe Cocktail stands as an unmissable piece of Dawson City’s heritage, an unusual ritual in the world of mixology, and an experience that’s sure to leave a lasting impression. For the bold, this “toe-tally” unique drink offers a once-in-a-lifetime story of daring, history, and a touch of the macabre.