Bruichladdich Marks 25 Years Of Islay Craftsmanship With Old Skool 10-Year-Old And Yellow Submarine III

Along the western shore of Loch Indaal, a broad sea loch on the remote Hebridean island of Islay, sits the Bruichladdich Distillery. The Scottish Island is home to a little over 3,000 people, but Bruichladdich (pronounced brook-laddie) has admirably earned a devoted following among whisky (and gin) connoisseurs.

Although it was first established in 1881, the distillery only reopened under its current stewardship in 2001 and was later purchased by Rémy Cointreau in 2012. For the last quarter of a century, Bruichladdich has firmly marched to the beat of its own drum, or rather, dram: going to extreme lengths in terms of provenance, reducing reliance on cask influence for providing flavour, and rejecting the use of caramel colouring and chill-filtration.

Liquid Expressions Of The Land

Bruichladdich proudly admits that it has an obsession with barley, its primary raw ingredient and the first step in the creation of a whisky’s flavour. In 2004, the distillery pioneered the first trial of Islay-grown barley, reintroducing the grain to Islay. Rather than prioritising yield alone, Bruichladdich experiments with heritage, Islay-grown, organic, and biodynamic barley to explore how terroir and farming methods influence flavour. The result is spirits with greater individuality: producing richer texture, brighter fruit notes, and more distinctive character. This also helps local farmers on the island by providing a guaranteed market for their crops, reviving traditional farming methods, and improving the island’s soil health.

The distillery has built a fascinating portfolio of barley-forward spirits, including its eponymous Bruichladdich, an unpeated Islay single malt Scotch whisky; Octomore, the cult favourite renowned as the world’s most heavily peated Scotch whisky series; and Port Charlotte, where 40PPM of peat meets exceptional balance. Sitting alongside these greats is The Botanist Gin, whose 22 wild hand-foraged botanicals have made it a favourite amongst gin devotees.

To celebrate 25 years since Bruichladdich Distillery’s resurrection, two exceptional, limited-edition single malt Scotch whiskies have been unveiled in Malaysia: the Old Skool 10-Year-Old and the Yellow Submarine III.

Honouring Their Roots

The Old Skool 10-Year-Old captures the spirit of Bruichladdich in a bottle, both literally and figuratively. Representing Bruichladdich’s efforts to champion diverse barley growing in pursuit of flavour, it is the first of three limited-edition anniversary bottlings to be released this year. Bottled at 50 per cent ABV, the whisky is distilled using 100 per cent Islay-grown malting barley from 14 local growers, all within a nine-mile radius of the distillery. A commemorative bespoke bottle features approximately 60 per cent recycled glass content, reflecting the distillery’s commitment to sustainability, while its livery pays homage to vintage Bruichladdich labels from the 1980s.

Master Blender, Adam Hannett, says, “Bruichladdich Old Skool 10-Year-Old is a very honest expression of who we are at Bruichladdich. Using 100 per cent Islay-grown barley gives the whisky a depth of flavour and a real sense of place. That natural barley sugar sweetness is central to our house style and runs right through the spirit.”

Hannett explains, “It’s matured primarily in carefully selected first-fill bourbon casks, which allow the character of the barley to shine, bringing notes of stoned fruits, citrus zest, and caramelised vanilla. A small parcel of first-fill Sauternes casks adds a subtle layer of floral sweetness, working in harmony with the fruity spirit and the inherent richness of Islay malt barley. This is a whisky shaped by patience and provenance—confident, expressive, and rooted in the way we’ve been making whisky on Islay for the past two decades,” he adds.

An Icon Resurfaces

Throughout the years, there has been an irreverent side to the distillery’s personality, and the Yellow Submarine III (no, nothing to do with The Beatles’ song) is the textbook example for this. In 2005, local fishermen spotted a remote-controlled yellow submarine off the coast of the distillery’s shores. The yellow submarine was brought back to Bruichladdich and stored for safekeeping until the UK’s Ministry of Defence came to collect their lost property. To mark its safe return, a bottle of the aptly named Yellow Submarine was presented to the men who found it. Embracing the absurdity with humour, the distillery created the tongue-in-cheek Yellow Submarine series, and, today, an exact replica is still proudly displayed on the distillery grounds.

Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III continues the series, following the release of Whisky of Mass Distinction: Yellow Submarine (2005) and Yellow Submarine II: The Legend Resurfaces (2018).

Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III draws its character from 14 years of maturation on Islay, where the unpeated spirit, distilled from 100 per cent Scottish barley, slowly developed its distinctive profile before being bottled at 54.2 per cent ABV. Guided by the original 2005 expression, Hannett composed the whisky from 75 per cent first-fill bourbon barrels and 25 per cent first- and second-fill French red wine casks.

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

He adds, “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!”

With the Old Skool 10-Year-Old honouring its origins and the Yellow Submarine III celebrating its playful spirit, Bruichladdich continues to prove that the finest whiskies are shaped not only by time, but by place, provenance, and the courage to do things differently.

The Bruichladdich Old Skool 10-Year-Old and Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III will be available at selected retailers from October 2026.

Photos: Bruichladdich Distillery