They wanted Ryan Reynolds. Tenen Sandy Silver.
The Yukon Prime Minister was chosen to drink the 100,000th cocktail at the Downtown Hotel in his hometown, Dawson City.
The historic event took place this Tuesday night.
“It ‘s not my first [sourtoe cocktail] and it won’t be my last, ”said Silver, who is also the area MP.
He said he is not often asked to replace Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds.
“But I’m always happy to comply,” he said.
Dawson City’s Sourdough Saloon will hit a major milestone this month: someone will drink the 100,000th Sourtour cocktail, a tradition that dates back half a century. https://t.co/DTiEaH84yW
– @ cbcdocs
The sourtoe cocktail is a well-known tradition that began with the captain of the river boat Dick Stephenson in 1973 when he and some friends found a toe preserved in an abandoned cabin.
The cocktail is a whiskey shot with a mummified finger.
“Once your toe touches your lips, you have officially joined the club and get a certificate to commemorate the prestigious occasion,” says a statement from Northern Vision Development, the hotel’s owner.
Reynolds had been invited to drink the 100,000th cocktail with his Aviation Gin, but the hotel received no response.
Over the years, people have given their toes to the hotel, including Stephenson, who wanted all his toes when he died in 2019.
In fact, the hotel made sure it was one of the toes given by Stephenson that was in the 100,000th cocktail party.