It all started when...

Tourism Saskatoon, Lucky Bastard Distillery, and Great Western Brewery, teamed up to launch what they hope will become a new tradition in Saskatoon: getting saskatoon’ed.

A handful of destinations across Canada and the US have their own rites of passages based on the area’s folklore, such as Dawson City Yukon’s The Sourtoe Cocktail. While visitors to Saskatoon need not fear taking a shot with a human toe in it, they will get to participate in a ceremonial shot that is true to our prairie roots.

The drop shot has both Great Western Brewery’s Original 16 beer, a beer that pays homage to the 16 founders of one of Canada’s most lucrative regional breweries, and Lucky Bastard Distillery’s saskatoon berry liquor, a spirit made with the berry after which Saskatoon is named, which is produced at their successful micro-distillery. There are steps to the shot, which includes a bit of chest pounding, a now local tradition started last year at NLL Saskatchewan Rush games. Those who partake will get to take away a card showing their status as an honorary local.

Aviva Kohen, Media Director at Tourism Saskatoon, hopes that "getting saskatoon’ed" becomes a local idiom: “I know that visitors to our city will enjoy sampling some local flavours and taking part in this fun new tradition. I hope that locals will show their prairie pride and go get saskatoon’ed as well.”

Cary Bowman, President of Good Times at Lucky Bastard Distillers says, “We honored to be a part of initiating this 'right of passage' into Saskatoon. We are so proud of our lovely city and especially proud of the lovely berry that we are named after. To us getting saskatoon’ed is more than just a gimmicky drink, it is a warm welcome to our city that embraces our roots in agriculture, hospitality, and good times. We hope the idea of getting saskatoon’ed spreads to all locals as well as visitors and brings us together as a great community.”

where to get saskatoon'ed

*Aroma Resto Bar at Radisson Hotel Saskatoon    *Finn's Pub at Parktown Hotel     *The Crazy Cactus     *Ramada Hotel Saskatoon

*6Twelve Lounge at Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel     *Hilton Garden Inn Saskatoon Downtown     *The Burning Beard

*Holiday Inn Saskatoon     *The Long Branch     *Birmingham’s Vodka and Ale House     *Capitol Music Club     *Hose and Hydrant

*Delta Bessborough Hotel Saskatoon     *Dublin’s Irish Pub & Grill     *The Rook & Raven     *Winston’s English Pub    

*The Yard & Flagon     *UNO MAS Tequila & Wine Bar     *The Saskatoon Club     *Saboroso     *Tony Roma’s Circle Drive    

*Tony Roma’s Stonegate     *Shark Club Saskatoon     *The Local Kitchen     *Persephone Theater     *Lucky Bastard Distillers

*The Cave Restaurant     *Eastview Bowl     *Fairhaven Bowl     *Bugsy's Lawson     *Bugsy's Market Mall