After 20 years, Bruichladdich resurfaces one of its quirkiest whiskies

Friday, 02 October 2026 at 08:25

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More than 20 years ago, Bruichladdich released a whisky with a rather extraordinary backstory. The Yellow Submarine was inspired by a submarine found off the coast of Islay, and by a remarkable mix-up with American intelligence services. Now, the Scottish distillery is reviving the name once again.

Bruichladdich has unveiled Yellow Submarine III [Reclassified], a 14-year-old single malt released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the distillery’s reopening. Only 570 bottles are available for the Benelux.

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The bizarre story behind Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine

To understand the whisky’s name, we need to go back to the early years after Bruichladdich’s revival. Founded in 1881, the distillery had been closed for years until Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin, together with master distiller Jim McEwan, began a new chapter in 2001.

Around that time, a submarine belonging to the UK Ministry of Defence was discovered off the coast of Islay. At the same time, Bruichladdich found itself entangled with American intelligence agencies.

Due to an administrative error, they reportedly mistook the distillery for a potential storage site for weapons of mass destruction.

Bruichladdich decided to turn the episode into a series of whiskies under the banner ‘Whisky of Mass Distinction’. Yellow Submarine was part of that lineup in 2005.

Now, more than two decades later, that whisky gets a worthy sequel.

Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III is 14 years old

Master Blender Adam Hannett set out to recreate the original release’s flavor profile for Yellow Submarine III.

He used a 14-year-old unpeated single malt made from 100% Scottish Appaloosa barley. The whisky was distilled, matured, and bottled on Islay.

For maturation, 75% of Yellow Submarine III comes from first-fill bourbon casks. The remaining 25% was drawn from first- and second-fill French red wine casks.

The combination is designed to complement Bruichladdich’s signature floral character with layers of vanilla, fruit, and spice.

Yellow Submarine III is non-chill filtered, contains no added color, and is bottled at 54.2% ABV.

Tasting notes for Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III

According to Bruichladdich, Yellow Submarine III offers a rich, creamy profile where sweet and fruity notes meet a delicate maritime touch.

Nose: Sugared grains, caramelized nuts, dried fruits, soft syrup, and refined spice.
Palate: Bright citrus, white blossom, and ripe fruit with a creamy texture and a subtle coastal salinity.
Finish: Long and gentle with honey, spice, and toasted dried fruits.