Bruichladdich's Yellow Submarine Resurfaces for The Distillery's 25th Anniversary

Twenty years ago, two fishermen were working off the coast of Islay when they came upon a curious catch: A yellow submarine with Royal Navy insignia. The UK’s Ministry of Defense initially denied ownership of the submersible, and so it found a home in an unlikely place—the grounds of Bruichladdich Distillery, where it was stored until the Ministry eventually reclaimed it. Bruichladdich capitalized on the submarine hysteria in a cheeky way, creating Whisky of Mass Distinction: Yellow Submarine in 2005 (that whisky was also a nod to the distillery’s brush with the U.S. government, which had it under surveillance in the early aughts under suspicion of harboring weapons of mass destruction). A second whisky followed 13 years later in 2018—Yellow Submarine II: The Legend Resurfaces—and a third has now surfaced, in celebration of Bruichladdich’s 25th anniversary.

Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III is unpeated and distilled from 100% Scottish barley. Master blender Adam Hannett drew inspiration from the original bottling, aging the new whisky in 75% first-fill bourbon barrels and 25% first and second-fill Bordeaux red wine casks. In another nod to the prior Yellow Submarine releases, the whisky is 14 years old. It’s bottled at 54.2% ABV. Hannett refers to the whisky as “one of those that makes you smile as soon as you nose it,” citing notes of honeyed oats, shortbread, nutmeg, hazelnut, and ginger. He calls out notes of orange zest, apple, pear, and honeysuckle on the palate, as well as creme brulee and sea salt.

This is the second whisky that the distillery has released in commemoration of its 25th anniversary; earlier this year, it debuted Old Skool, a 10 year old single malt distilled from Islay-grown barley and aged in a combination of bourbon barrels and sauternes casks. While that whisky has since sold out, Yellow Submarine III is available now at retailers nationwide for $135.