In Scotch whisky news this week, Bruichladdich has revived its cult Yellow Submarine series with a third release — Yellow Submarine III – Reclassified. It's a 14 year old unpeated single malt bottled at 54.2% ABV, and it marks the Islay distillery's 25th anniversary. The question, as always for Australian drinkers: will we actually see it?
The backstory behind the news
The Yellow Submarine series has one of the better origin stories in whisky. In the early 2000s, US Military Intelligence reportedly flagged Bruichladdich as a potential site for weapons of mass destruction. The distillery responded not with lawyers, but with humour — releasing a whisky called Yellow Submarine: Whisky of Mass Distinction in 2005. That same year, a wayward Ministry of Defence submarine turned up off the Islay coast. An exact replica still sits on the distillery grounds.
Yellow Submarine II followed in 2018. Now, seven years later, the third instalment arrives as part of anniversary celebrations.
What's in the bottle
Master Blender Adam Hannett has put together a vatting of casks matured in first-fill bourbon barrels alongside first and second-fill French red wine casks. All barley is 100% Scottish-grown, consistent with Bruichladdich's terroir-focused approach.
The distillery describes tasting notes of:
- Honeyed oats, buttery shortbread, nutmeg and ginger spice on the nose
- Orange zest, honeysuckle, apple, pear, crème brûlée and sea salt on the palate
At 54.2% ABV and unpeated, this sits firmly in Bruichladdich's classic style — fruit-forward, coastal, and textured.
Australian availability news
Here's where expectations need to be tempered. The release is currently listed via the Bruichladdich website and selected specialist retailers, with a UK RRP of £100 (roughly AUD $195 before any local markups, duties, or import costs).
Whether Australian allocations materialise remains unclear. Bruichladdich does have distribution here through Rémy Cointreau, so there's a pathway — but limited releases like this often arrive late, in small numbers, and at a premium over the UK price. If it does land, expect it to sit firmly in premium whisky territory, with bottles likely appearing through specialist independent retailers rather than major chains.
Previous Yellow Submarine releases have become collector's items. The 2005 original and 2018 follow-up rarely surface on the secondary market, and when they do, prices reflect their scarcity. That track record means this third release will draw attention from Bruichladdich loyalists quickly.
The bottom line
It's a solid release from a distillery that knows how to balance irreverence with quality. The cask combination is interesting, the ABV is right, and the backstory gives it genuine character. For Australian drinkers keen on tracking it down, the advice is simple: speak to your local independent retailer early, and don't assume it will appear on shelves without effort. Allocations, if they come, will be tight.
Source: The Whisky Wire
