Bruichladdich at 25 years: Yellow Submarine
Bruichladdich at 25 years
New limited edition Yellow Submarine III the latest release in celebration of 25 years since Bruichladdich’s resurrection
Third outing for one of the distillery’s most beloved cult bottlings, from the tongue-in-cheek Whisky of Mass Distinction series
Unpeated 14-year-old single malt whisky distilled from 100% Scottish barley
Matured in a precise combination of first fill bourbon barrels (25%) and first and second fill French red wine casks (75%), bottled at 54.2% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural colour
RRP £100, available via bruichladdich.com and in specialist whisky retailers from June 2026
ONE of the most iconic whiskies in Bruichladdich’s modern history – Yellow Submarine – has resurfaced as part of the progressive Hebridean distillery’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
The new limited edition Yellow Submarine III pays tribute to the distillery’s irreverent early years when a real yellow Ministry of Defence submarine was discovered off Islay’s coast in 2005 - with an exact replica of the lost submersible still standing proudly on site at Bruichladdich today.
The series was born from a notorious mix-up in the early 2000s, when US Military Intelligence mistakenly flagged Bruichladdich as a potential site for weapons of mass destruction – a bureaucratic blunder the distillery answered with humour rather than outrage.
Yellow Submarine III is the latest iteration of the cult classic, following Whisky of Mass Distinction: Yellow Submarine (2005) and Yellow Submarine II: The Legend Resurfaces (2018).
Douglas Taylor, Chief Executive of Bruichladdich Distillery, said: “Yellow Submarine captures the spirit of Bruichladdich in its early years – inventive, a bit rebellious and always up for a good story. In the early days we didn’t have big budgets or slick marketing, we had a tight-knit team, a recovering old distillery and a bright yellow submarine parked outside.
“Bringing Yellow Submarine back for our 25th anniversary is about honouring that spirit. It’s a reminder that great whisky can be refined in the glass, but it doesn’t have to take itself too seriously. This release nods to our past, to the people who backed us when we were just finding our feet, and to the sense of fun that still runs through everything we do.”
Bottled at 54.2% ABV, Yellow Submarine III is unpeated and distilled from 100% Scottish barley, using the Appaloosa varietal grown on the mainland. The whisky has spent its full 14-year maturation at Bruichladdich on Islay, in a carefully balanced recipe inspired by the original 2005 bottling: 25% first fill bourbon barrels and 75% first and second fill French red wine casks.
The French red wine casks add layers of nutty spice, fruit and structure to Bruichladdich’s elegant, floral house style, while the bourbon wood contributes vanilla, sweetness and texture.
Adam Hannett, Master Blender at Bruichladdich, said: “Yellow Submarine III is one of those whiskies that makes you smile as soon as you nose it. The bourbon and French red wine casks wrap around the spirit beautifully – you get honeyed oats, buttery shortbread, then this ripple of nutmeg, hazelnut and gentle ginger heat.
“On the palate it’s luxuriously smooth, with orange zest, honeysuckle, apple and pear all playing their part, before crème brûlée richness and a touch of sea salt bring you right back to Islay. It’s playful, layered and moreish – exactly what a Yellow Submarine whisky should be. Dive in!”
Yellow Submarine III is non-chill filtered, with no added colour. It is priced at £100 and will be available via bruichladdich.com and through specialist whisky retailers from 1st June 2026.
For more information on Yellow Submarine III and Bruichladdich Distillery, visit bruichladdich.com.
Tasting Notes – Yellow Submarine III
Nose
Sweet, honeyed oats and buttery shortbread open on the nose, underpinned by a gentle cereal warmth. Notes of lightly toasted hazelnuts and smooth praline intertwine with a dusting of nutmeg, revealing a rich, syrupy sweetness reminiscent of pistachio baklava. Pink peppercorns and a hint of ginger punctuate the sweetness before mellowing into warming spice.
Palate
Luxuriously smooth in texture, a hint of fresh orange zest adds vibrancy and brightness. Delicate waves of honeysuckle and orange blossom follow, complemented by crisp apple and succulent pear. Creamy crème brûlée brings richness and depth, with golden heather and a hint of sea salt transporting you to the rugged, windswept shores of Islay.
Finish
Long and lingering, layers of honeyed sweetness, gentle warming spice and toasted hazelnut gradually unfold. The whisky’s velvety, unctuous mouthfeel never wavers, leaving a decadent, moreish impression with every sip.
Need to know:
About Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III
Age: 14 Aged Years
ABV: 54.2%
PPM: Unpeated
Barley: 100% Scottish barley (Appaloosa varietal)
Maturation profile: 25% first fill bourbon barrels; 75% first and second fill French red wine casks
Colour: Sunlit barley
RRP: £100
Availability: bruichladdich.com and specialist whisky retailers from 1st June 2026
