A barman in Canada’s Yukon Territory is furious that the key ingredient to the famed “Sourtoe Cocktail” – a mummified human toe – has been stolen.<\/p>\n
The severed toe, served in alcoholic drinks at the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City, was stolen by a Quebec resident, according to “Toe Captain” Terry Lee.<\/p>\n
“Toes are very hard to come by,” Mr Lee said. “I’m really attached to it.”<\/p>\n
The toe is estimated to be worth CA$80,000 (US$60,000 \/ \u00a348,000) and is part of local folklore.<\/p>\n
For over four decades, tourists and residents have been able to order an alcoholic cocktail of their choice served with a desiccated human toe floating inside.<\/p>\n
It’s traditionally served with Yukon Gold whiskey, and must touch the drinkers’ lips in order to earn a certificate from the bar.<\/p>\n
A local saying goes: “You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips must touch the toe.”<\/p>\n
More than 70,000 people have tasted it.<\/p>\n
There are several back-up toes available but bar staff say this was their newest and freshest.<\/p>\n
“This was our new toe, and it was a really good one. We just started using it this weekend,” hotel manager Geri Coulbourne told CBC News.<\/p>\n
It was donated by a man who had it amputated, and placed in salt to cure for six months.<\/p>\n
It is “an institution in Dawson,” Mr Lee said. “When someone frigs around with it, there goes our institution.”<\/p>\n
At least eight toes have gone missing since the tradition first began in 1973 when Yukon riverboat captain Dick Stevenson discovered a preserved toe in an abandoned cabin.<\/p>\n
It has been swallowed twice since then but consuming it is discouraged and the pub fines culprits.<\/p>\n
Police are investigating the crime as a theft.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n