Our Aussie head of production, Aaron had met an incredible family last year who produce some incredible apples only a 45 minute drive from our Innovation Facility.
So please welcome our newest addition, Apple Pie Soda.
Think of it like something in between Apple Strudel and Mulled Cider?
Ian Rodger and his daughter popped down to see us earlier this month with raw pressed juice like nothing we have tasted before: rich, thick juice with a beautiful balance to it. There was an almost toffee like taste, but with beautiful tannins creating a velvety drink. We we're hooked.
Turns out he had a lot to say about his apples and why they taste the way that they do:
"The composition of that barrel is as follows:
40% Egremont Russett
40% Scotch Bridget
15% White Melrose
5% Coul Blush
Egremont Russet is an old dessert apple variety, first recorded in Somerset in 1872. It has a characteristic nutty flavour.
Scotch Bridget is a Scottish heritage variety dating from 1851. It has a rich flavour, green apples with a red/brown flush. Often considered a culinary apple, it is sweet enough to be a dessert apple later in the season. Makes excellent juice. ( My personal favourite).
White Melrose. Planted by French Monks at Melrose Abbey, and first recorded in 1831. It is a Scottish heritage variety. The pale colour of the apples makes them stand out clearly against the dark green tree foliage. A “mother” tree still stands at Melrose Abbey today. Has a good sweet, sharp flavour. It was widely grown in the Borders and Tweed Valley in the 19th century.
Coul Blush. Brilliant Scottish heritage variety, which would make a fantastic single varietal juice if I had enough of them! Very sweet and aromatic apples. Yellow skin. Raised by Sir George MacKenzie at Coul House, Easter Ross in Scotland in 1827.
None of our trees are sprayed with pesticides, herbicides or hormones of any kind. They are simply allowed to do their own thing.
The main orchard was planted by me (Susan) in 2011, and extended over the years to add in Scottish heritage apples and cider varieties. In total there are about 35 varieties. The oldest trees are about 30+ years old. "
Pretty cool eh? We love learning from charcters like this.
Our X_Series is our chance to trial new concepts at a micro level, before taking to the wider UK market for commercial approval.
We ask that all of our exclusive 'Friends with Benefits' members get stuck in to the conversation at this experimental level: allowing us to adjust recipes, refine the production technique further, and help us make smarter decisions moving forward into 2022 and beyond.
We have only produced one single batch of this trial recipe and we would love some honest feedback. If the response is positive, we could introduce this recipe every Winter to fight this cold wet weather!
[SHIPPING FROM WEDNESDAY THE 1ST NOVEMBER]
RAW FRUIT_
VEGAN FRIENDLY_
UK SHIPPING INCLUDED_
MADE IN SCOTLAND FROM 100% SCOTTISH FRUIT_
