One of the most iconic whiskies in Bruichladdich Distillery’s modern history, Yellow Submarine, has resurfaced as part of the Hebridean distillery’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

The new limited edition Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III pays tribute to the distillery’s irreverent early years when a wayward Ministry of Defence submarine was discovered off Islay’s coast in 2005, with an exact replica of the lost submersible still standing proudly in the distillery grounds today.

The series was born from a notorious mix-up in the early 2000s, when U.S. 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.

Bruichladdich 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).

“The Yellow Submarine series 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,” Gareth Brown, Global Marketing Director at Bruichladdich Distillery, said in a news release: “Bringing Yellow Submarine back for our 25th anniversary is about honoring 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, Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III is unpeated and distilled from 100% Scottish barley. The whisky has spent its full 14-year maturation at Bruichladdich on Islay, in a carefully balanced recipe curated by Master Blender Adam Hannett, inspired by the original 2005 bottling: 75% first fill bourbon barrels and 25% first and second fill French red wine casks.

The bourbon oak contributes vanilla, honeyed sweetness, and texture, while the French red wine casks add layers of nutty spice, fruit, and structure to Bruichladdich’s elegant and floral house style.

“Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III is one of those whiskies that makes you smile as soon as you nose it,” Hannett said. “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.”

Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III is un-chill filtered, with no added colour. The second limited edition bottling to celebrate the distillery’s 25^th anniversary, the single malt whisky is priced at $134.99 and will be available via us.bruichladdich.com and through specialist whisky retailers from 1st June 2026.

Read more: Bruichladdich Releases The Laddie Rye in U.S.

About Bruichladdich Distillery

Bruichladdich Distillery is situated on the Hebridean island of Islay and is home to four unique brands: Bruichladdich, unpeated Islay single malt Scotch whisky, Port Charlotte, Octomore and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. The distillery was first established in 1881 by the Harvey brothers. It survived through periods of closure including world wars and economic uncertainly, only to be closed for seven years in 1994. The distillery was reopened by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin and then Head Distiller, Jim McEwan, in 2001. For more information, visit https://us.bruichladdich.com.