RantCrush Top 5: June 21, 2017

That might sound really weird. But it’s true: someone stole the severed, human toe that a hotel bar in Yukon, Canada, uses to make its famous “Sourtoe Cocktail.” “This was our new toe, and it was a really good one. We just started using it this weekend,” said Dawson Hotel manager Geri Coulbourne. But there are some backup toes available…so that’s good?

The toe tradition started in 1973, when a toe belonging to a mummified prohibition-era smuggler was found in a cabin. Since then, drinking a shot of whiskey with the toe in it has become a tradition.

“Toes are hard to come by.” I certainly hope so! Human toe stolen from Dawson City bar #cocktails #Yukon https://t.co/ATg7s3LNq7

— Mak_Canada (@Mak_Canada) June 20, 2017

However, some customers really want to keep the toes. In 2013, a man swallowed a toe on purpose. He left $500 at the bar to pay the fine. The bar plans to fine the newest toe-stealing culprit $2,500. They claim to already know who it is. “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,” said Terry Lee, the hotel’s toe captain. The bar is currently accepting toe donations to increase its supply.

I love: 1. The Toe is consistently capitalized 2. “We fortunately have a couple of backup toes.” https://t.co/RLAIHe1ebA

— Brooke Jarvis (@brookejarvis) June 20, 2017

This article left me with so many questions. Where did this drink come from? And why? And HOW DID THEY GET THE TOE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

— Sarah Kaplan (@sarahkaplan48) June 20, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.