If this is your first one Id suggest just using plain applejuice. Dont add anything (other than yeast ofc) That way you will have a benchmark product. You can then complicate things on your next one.. i mean tweak it for improving flavour
Ive yet to get to the tweaking stage myself, I make all my apple tc with just AJ an yeast. 1 reason for this is cos im lazy an this really is minimum effort. 2, I like the taste as it is. Altho at some point i am going to try Dreadskins recipe to see the difference
As for yeast im a heathen an use bread yeast.