Cider maker Thatchers has kicked off its earliest harvest in history – a full 10 days ahead of schedule – following this year’s long, hot summer.
For the first time in over 120 years of cider making, the Thatchers team have begun picking apples from their 550 acres of orchards in Somerset before the August Bank holiday.
Martin Thatcher, fourth-generation cider maker, commented: “We’re particularly excited about this year’s harvest. Thanks to the hot summer, the apples are packed full of flavour, rich with sugars and deep, full-bodied tannins. That’s going to be really exciting when it comes to blending as traditional bittersweet apples bring the tannins and full body, while dessert apples, such as our favourite Katy, add freshness and sweetness – combined they create delicious blends like our signature cider, Thatchers Gold.”
The first to be gathered are the bright red Katy apples — a signature variety for Thatchers. Known for their crisp, sweet flavour, they feature in Thatchers Juicy Apple and the award-winning single variety cider, Thatchers Katy, which was recently hailed as “perfect” by judges at the Cider World Awards.
Richard Johnson, Head Cidermaker at Thatchers Cider, added: “We had an excellent spring, where the warm weather and bountiful blossom gave us good pollination, meaning the trees are laden with fruit. The apples are slightly smaller due to the lack of rain, but the flavours are intensified. I’m particularly excited to see our favourite bittersweet varieties like Dabinett and Somerset Redstreak, rich with the tannins that give our ciders the distinctive depth and character we’re known for.”
