Saturday, March 09, 2024

Traditional Archery Target

 Heading into Spring I was looking for better options for archery targets. Up to now I was using animal feed bags filled with leaves and other materials but they were not (really) portable and were starting to disintegrate due to use and exposure to weather.

  Found these traditional targets on Amazon made from dried grasses. Environmentally friendly they are easier to carry over a synthetic archery block target and were less expensive. I opted to purchase one triple layered target for testing purposes.


  First thing I noticed is how convenient it was to carry the target. I placed it in a black shoulder bag to be discreet when heading into the local woods. Relatively light weight but how would it hold up to arrows from my bows which are all in the 45 - 55 pound range?

  I was using my Alibow #45@28 short Turkish bow along with field point wooden arrows from Flagella Dei.The arrows made a resounding and somewhat pleasant "thunk" when hitting the target. Surprisingly they easily penetrated all three of the targets with about an inch of arrow out the backside. It may be due to loosing them at close range and/or the type of field point. Perhaps a more rounder bullet point would have less impact. My issue was it took some effort to remove the arrows from the target. Unlike the animal feed bag targets at least arrows were not passing through thus damaging the fletching. Still required lots of wiggling and pulling to retrieve arrows put otherwise the grass target was quite effective. In retrospect I probably should have ordered a four layer target for use with bows 45+ poundage.

  Time to dispose of the old feedbag targets. I do wonder how the grass target will hold up over time but being inexpensive replacing it periodically is no deal breaker.




Sunday, February 25, 2024

Rum - Mount Gay Black Barrel Double Cask Blend

 In the glass is a new to me Barbados rum from the Mount Gay distillery. This spirit is blended from rums distilled in copper pots and column stills, matured in American whiskey casks then finished in charred bourbon barrels. Coming in at a 43% APV this rum shows gold in the glass with a hint of amber. A step up from the entry level Eclipse rum this spirit possesses smoke upon the palate no doubt from aging in charred wood. There is no age statement on the classic Mount Gay bottle and label but a little research indicates it is matured between three and seven years.

I definitely taste the bourbon influence in this rum but also some caramel and banana. Mouth feel is verging upon a harshness and there is a degree of roughness in the finish. Not unpleasant but I prefer a little ice melt to open up the spirit and smooth out the finish. One needs to ask whether it justifies the $60 CDN price point over it's Eclipse sibling that retails for twenty less dollars?

With an added ice cube I can sip and enjoy this rum but I suspect it would perform better as a mixer or in cocktails. If you can find it on sale it's a good buy for a solid performer. Otherwise look at the less expensive Mount Gay Eclipse, especially if you prefer your rum mixed with cola.

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Santa Theresa 1796 Solara Rum

Gifted a bottle of the 1796 solara rum so I was looking forward to completing this review. I believe this is my first experience with a solara rum although I may have sampled one unknowingly upon a Carribean cruise to the Dutch Antilles.

In the glass is a 1796 Santa Theresa rum from Venezuela distilled by the Vollmer family to celebrate the bicentennial of the Hacienda Santa Theresa. Packaged in an attractive tube the heavy bottle has an unique shape complete with a dipped waxed neck and cork. Classic labeling to complete a traditional saloon look.

In a simplified description of the solara system it basically requires inter-connected barrels of rum tiered upon each other with the oldest aged rum on the bottom and newer (less aged) kegs ascending to the top. When a percentage of the bottom barrel aged rum is bottled rums from the other kegs will descend thus replenishing all the tiered barrels. The top (youngest) keg then gets topped up with new rum. The resulting spirit is a blend of old, middle aged and younger rums for a complex, balanced and consistent rum.

This does make age statements in solara rums  controversial as there is no way to really determine the exact percentage of aged rum in any given bottle.

In the glass the 1796 shows a brilliant amber. With a pleasant nose and mouth feel I experience a predominance of dried fruit upon the palate with a touch of vanilla. The excellent finish is smooth yet complex and where I ascertain notes of cinnamon and spice. It is quite delicious neat in the glass. I usually prefer some ice with my rum but can be quite happy going it alone with the 1796.