Bruichladdich “Yellow Submarine” and Islay About 17 Years Ago

2026.10.05

In short: Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine 14 Year Old (54.2%) — an unpeated Islay single malt marking 25 years since the distillery’s revival, 75% first-fill bourbon and 25% Bordeaux red wine casks, named after a Ministry of Defence submersible found off the distillery. Plus memories of a visit about 17 years ago and The Classic Laddie’s new 10-year age statement. By Mika Tanimoto, Bar Little Happiness, Hiroshima.

Too cute!

Bruichladdich’s “Yellow Submarine,” in its yellow bottle.

I have no space left to put it.

There’s no point in only adding bottles that appeal to the experts.

…That’s what I thought, but I just couldn’t resist welcoming it in! (laughs)

It is just so cute!

14 years old, 54.2% — a release for the 25th anniversary of the distillery’s revival

This bottle is a limited release celebrating 25 years since Bruichladdich Distillery restarted production.

It is the third bottle to carry the name Yellow Submarine.

(Borrowed from the official website)

It is aged 14 years and bottled at 54.2% ABV.

An unpeated single malt made from 100% Scottish barley.

It was matured entirely on Islay and bottled with Islay spring water.

Maturation

The cask make-up is 75% first-fill bourbon casks.

The remaining 25% is first-fill and second-fill Bordeaux red wine casks.

It is based on the recipe of the first Yellow Submarine, released in 2005; the Spanish Rioja casks used then have been changed to Bordeaux this time.

(Borrowed from the official website)

Official tasting notes

Nose: Sweet, honeyed oats and butter-rich shortbread tickle the nose, supported by a gentle warmth of grain.

Lightly roasted hazelnut and smooth praline intertwine with a dusting of nutmeg, opening into a rich, syrupy sweetness reminiscent of pistachio baklava.

Pink peppercorn and a hint of ginger lift the sweetness, gradually turning into warming spice.

Palate: A luxuriously smooth texture, with fresh orange peel adding liveliness and brightness.

Then delicate honeysuckle and orange blossom unfold, set off by crisp apple and juicy pear. A creamy crème brûlée brings richness and depth, while golden heather and a hint of sea salt draw you to Islay’s wild, windswept coast.

Finish: Long and lingering, with honeyed sweetness, gentle warming spice and toasted hazelnut layering and slowly spreading.

The whisky’s velvety, melting smoothness holds steady to the very end, leaving a luxurious impression that makes you want one sip after another.

Where the name comes from — a yellow submarine found offshore

There is a real event behind the name Yellow Submarine.

About 20 years ago, an Islay fisherman found a bright yellow remotely operated submersible in the sea right in front of the distillery.

The submersible was brought ashore and kept at the distillery until the Ministry of Defence came to collect it.

To celebrate its safe return, a bottle was presented to the people who recovered it.

That was the “Yellow Submarine.”

And I hear the submersible still stands on the distillery grounds today.

It must have been there when I visited, too.

But I don’t remember it at all…

Only the legs sticking out of the pot still at the entrance — the “cute distillery” I saw on Islay

It has been about 17 years since I visited Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay.

At the distillery entrance stood a pot still sculpture.

And out of that pot still, only a doll’s legs were sticking out.

As if someone were trying to climb inside.

It was so cute!!

↓ I only have low-quality photos, but I’ll share them anyway!

I have seen many strict, traditional distilleries.

But Bruichladdich greets you with this, right at the entrance.

People who are seriously making great spirits have a doll’s legs sticking out at their entrance.

I thought that playfulness was wonderful!

I wonder what happened to those legs?!

Yellow and light blue: two bottles side by side on the counter

When the bottle arrived, the very first thing I did

was bring The Classic Laddie next to it and line the two up.

Bruichladdich’s light blue, and Yellow Submarine’s yellow.

This is really, really cute.

The Classic Laddie I placed next to it is Bruichladdich’s standard bottle.

For a long time it had no age statement, but from 2025 “10 Aged Years” — a 10-year-old statement — became the standard.

This distillery also released a core 10-year-old back in 2011, and has a past of having to stop it when it ran short of aged stock.

The 10-year statement it once let go has now come back — this time on the standard bottle.

While core products tend to drop age statements, they have done the opposite and added one.

I think they are ahead of the times.

It made me want to stand at that entrance once again.

The doll’s legs, and the yellow submarine!!!

I want to see both with my own eyes!!

If you have been there recently and know, please tell me!

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