Interesting Cider Concept

[irish_goat]

Saw this place on Saturday Kitchen there. http://wearehawkes.com/apple-donors

The idea is that if you donate 3kg of unwanted apples you get a bottle of cider. The cider maker then makes cider from the apples. The tricky part comes then in having to blend each batch as he has no idea what apples have gone into each batch and needs to then balance the acidity/sweetness etc.

[willk]

Yer linky is wonky:  http://www.wearehawkes.com/apple-donors/

IMO, it's a fiendishly clever bit of scavenging/marketing.  3kg should press to around 2000mls.  For that you get a 330ml bottle, but you had to actually GO to the "Cidery" so you're a sitting duck for further sales.  I didn't see the show? but the description of the cider suggest a fairly bland product made well from dessert and cooking apples.  None of them will have much in the way of distinct character but as you say, the cider master will have to blend for acidity and sweetness.  Chances are they have to add sugars anyway, so maybe not such a big deal.  They most likely have to adjust acidity afterwards anyway.