Travel

Brit drinks cocktail with his own TOE on holiday in bizarre tradition that dates back to the 1970s


A BRITISH tourist drank a cocktail with his own severed toe in it as part of a disgusting Canadian tradition.

Nick Griffiths, 47, lost three of his toes to frostbite while trying to complete the 300-mile Yukon Arctic Race.

 Brit Nick Griffiths downed a drink with his own frostbitten toe in it

4

Brit Nick Griffiths downed a drink with his own frostbitten toe in it

Afterwards, the ex-commando donated the toes to the Sourtoe Cocktail Club in Canada.

He returned for a visit this year, during which he downed a “toe-quila” shot with his toe inside.

Nick said: “Doing the Sourtoe Cocktail with my own toe is a memory I will take to my grave.”

Adam Gerle, General Manager of Downtown Hotel in Dawson City added that it was “not every day” someone could do the cocktail with their own toe.

 It is called the Sourtoe Cocktail, which dates back to 1973

4

It is called the Sourtoe Cocktail, which dates back to 1973

The challenge started in 1973, after a man named Louie Liken had his toe amputated while living in Yukon in Canada in the 1920s.

He left the toe in alcohol for 50 years, preserving the appendage.

Then, in 1972, Captain Dick Stevenson found the toe in the jar, which he took to the Sourdough Saloon before daring punters to have their drink with the toe in it.

This was how the Sourtoe Cocktail was created.

 Nick donated his toe last year after losing it to frostbite

4

Nick donated his toe last year after losing it to frostbiteCredit: Splash News
 The tradition started in 1973 in Yukon

4

The tradition started in 1973 in YukonCredit: refer to caption

According to local stories, the toe lasted seven years before a man swallowed it by accident.

Since then, more than ten toes have been donated to the bar with some stolen or swallowed over the years.

Anyone thinking about swallowing the toe are warned there is a $2,500 (£1,500) fine.

It also isn’t for the faint-hearted – bar manager Dick Van Nostrand said: “We’ve had people throwing up, we’ve had people gagging on their drinks.”

The most important rule cited by the bar explains: “You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips have gotta touch the toe.”

Thousands of people have since tried it for themselves.

Grim video shows podiatrist tackling fungal toenails so long they stretch right over patient’s feet

Britain has its fair share of weird traditions.

Cheese rolling, pancake flipping and greasy pole climbing are just some of the things Brits used to celebrate.

Strange Christmas traditions include deep-fried caterpillars and a “pooing” man in Catalonia.





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.