Flirt with Cannabilism

The Sourtoe Cocktail

The Sourtoe Cocktail captures the wild creative spirit of the frozen north, and is a story that will never fail you at cocktail parties. The Downtown Bar in Dawson City serves a tumbler of your liquor choice with a real severed human toe. There is a ceremony, you join the club, and get a card. Over 65,000 people have it. Why, you make ask? Because it’s there.

Length of Trip : 1 hour

Cost : It costs $5 to join the club, plus the cost of the liquor you’re consuming in your cocktail. Together with your shot of Yukon Jack, it costs about $12.

Best time to go : You can join the Sour Toe Cocktail Club year-round.

Wheelchair friendly : Yes

Family friendly : No

Where to eat : You can chase your cocktail with pub fare in the saloon of the Downtown Hotel, or head upstairs to the Jack London Dining Room, open daily from 6am to 10pm (11pm on weekends). There is also a patio open in the summer.

Official Site : www.downtownhotel.ca www.sourtoecocktailclub.com www.dawsoncity.ca

Where to Stay : The Downtown Hotel has 34 rooms in the main building, and 25 rooms in the Annex (which has a courtyard and Jacuzzi). There is a shuttle service to and from the airport 13 miles from town. Each room has two double beds and en-suite bathroom. There are also four deluxe rooms and a handicap room with special bathroom facilities.

Getting There : The Downtown Hotel is located in the heart of Dawson City, which despite its name, is small and easy to navigate. It is located one block from the Yukon River.

Note from Robin : You can choose to drink your cocktail with any spirit that’s 40% alcohol, such as vodka, gin or whiskey. Most people choose the local Yukon Jack. For some years the club has been using its 8th toe, donated by someone who lost it in a lawn mower accident. Click here to read about the history of the toes that came before it.

Great Canadian Trails