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Thief steals toe used in Canadian hotel's signature cocktail

By Daniel Uria
The Downtown Hotel in Canada is seeking a man who stole a toe used in its signature "Sourtoe Cocktail."
 Photo courtesy Downtown Hotel
The Downtown Hotel in Canada is seeking a man who stole a toe used in its signature "Sourtoe Cocktail." Photo courtesy Downtown Hotel

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June 20 (UPI) -- A hotel in Canada was robbed of a preserved human toe used as an ingredient in its unique signature drink.

The Sourdough Saloon at Dawson City's Downtown Hotel was enraged by the theft of the toe used to create its Sourtoe Cocktail, which is dropped in a shot of whiskey that the drinker must swallow until the toe touches their lips.

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"We are furious," Terry Lee, the saloon's "Toe Captain," told Global News. "This guy asked to do the Toe after the 9 to 11 p.m. toe time hours and one of the new staff served it to him to be nice – and this is how he pays her back. What a low life."

Sourdough Saloon identified the suspected thief as a man from Quebec, who had a French accent and openly discussed stealing the toe before taking the drink.

The hotel has a pre-established $2,500 fine for anyone guilty of stealing the toe. A patron was fined $500 for deliberately swallowing the toe in 2013.

"Stunts like this adversely affect the whole community, not just the Downtown Hotel," Lee said. "We fortunately have a couple of back up toes, but we really need this one back."

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Hotel manager Geri Coulbourn said the toe was cured in salt for six months after it was donated by a man who had to have it it surgically removed.

Staff said the suspect left behind a certificate commemorating his entry into the Sourtoe Cocktail club containing his name. Police are in the midst of investigating the incident.

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