Sourdoughs and Sour Toes

This subject deserves its very own post. I mentioned the Sour Toe Cocktail in the last post, and I think I spoke too soon when I said, "and no, we won't be trying it."

Our last night in Dawson,  we all went to Diamond Tooth Gertie's Casino for the Can Can show, drinks and dinner.  Loved the show...very well done. We started out with dinner and a drink or two, and of course, the subject of the Sour Toe Cocktail came up.

A group of us went to the Diamond Hotel bar...just to look at the toe.

A little background on the story behind "the toe".

When Captain Dick Stevenson bought the cabin that used to belong to a man by the name of Otto Lukens, he was familiar with the legend that Otto had chopped off his brother's toe due to frostbite. The amputated toe was kept, packed in salt. After cleaning the cabin of years of "funk", Captain Dick found the dehydrated toe "rattling around in a pickle jar".

After many drinks, he decided he ought to do something with the toe and came up with the brilliant idea that it should be dropped into a beer glass full of champagne and the champagne should be drunk. This was the first Sour Toe Cocktail.

So, we arrive at the bar. The toe is brought out at 9:00 PM with much fanfare.

I probably don't need to tell you that this is the toe.

Champagne is no longer the alcohol of choice. Today it's whiskey. Yukon Jack whiskey

Not sure where that hat came from. 

After buying your shot at the bar, you see the man...Captain Dick. He reads you the rules...

You can drink it fast
You can drink it slow
But the lips have got
To touch the toe.

Note the toe sitting on a pile of salt.

Captain Dick deserved a close up shot. He was so serious!

And then...it happens. The moment of truth.

And before you know it, you are an honorary member of the Sour Toe Society...Number 50,322 to be exact.

Yes, he's a bit nuts. But he was one of many that braved the toe that night. Me? Nope. But I have to admit, I was afraid I'd choke on the whiskey more that I was afraid of the toe.