Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine 1991

In 2005, a local Islay fisherman spotted something unusual in the water near Bruichladdich Distillery. Upon investigation, it turned out to be a LOST YELLOW SUBMARINE. Together with the distillery manager, they contacted the Department of Defense, informing them of the found submarine. The Defense Department stated no submarine was missing and suggested Bruichladdich must have acquired it illicitly. This continued for three months until Bruichladdich launched a first edition of the Yellow Submarine whisky, named WMD (WHISKY OF MASS DISTINCTION), featuring the submarine on the label. It was only then that the Department of Defense retrieved the underwater vehicle from the Distillery, acknowledging it as their own. To this day, Bruichladdich keeps a replica of the Submarine on their premises and has released two expressions: the original 14-year-old and this 25-year-old, vintage 1991. It was aged in Refill Sherry & Bourbon, and Spanish red wine casks, bottled at 46% ABV, with only 1991 decanters produced. I must admit, I've been searching for this bottle for years and have finally found it. It's fitting that it's included in my special reviews as I approach my 1000th whisky critique. This marks my 996th review. Nose: Outstanding. Notes of Coca-Cola, BBQ, and bacon, creating a 'soapy bacon' aroma. Incredible scent. Sherry has emerged, with chocolate and red fruits. Brownies and aged orange peel. Tangerine and more chocolate. Palate: Exceptionally fruity and spectacular. Orange juice, tangerine juice, and a hint of sulfur. Pepper. After the initial sip, notes of brownies and cherry syrup are revealed. It possesses a delightful orange acidity. Milk chocolate. Very elegant and pleasant. Aftertaste: Incredibly wonderful. Brownies and the aforementioned orange acidity. It's quite elegant and full-bodied. On the second pass, I detected a pleasant bite, with earthy and salty notes, truly lovely. Lots of ginger. Overall: This is a highly complex, masterfully crafted whisky. It's not an inexpensive dram, but it is entirely worth the cost. I've managed to check off a significant single malt from my bucket list. My score for this whisky of mass distinction is 100 out of 100. Cheers!

As a devoted fan of the band, I felt compelled to try this, regardless of its quality, purely for the novelty. A fellow enthusiast mentioned having this Drammers Club exclusive and generously shared a taste. The glass presents a pale golden yellow color. The initial aroma offers a wide range of scents. It's light, fruity, earthy, and sweet, with a hint of spice and phenols. Ripe peaches, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, apples, and Concord grapes provide the fruity notes. Cleaned mushrooms, straw, and the smell of rain on dry earth contribute to the earthiness. Milk chocolate/Whoppers candy, butterscotch, butter pound cake, powdered sugar, and toasted marshmallows offer sweetness. A touch of cinnamon and nutmeg are sprinkled in. Above this array of aromas, a distinct rubber hose scent can be detected. In essence, the aromas are a perfect representation. The complexity and breadth of the scents are extensive, so a detailed rehashing of the tangible aspects is unnecessary (refer to the above for the flavors). The fruit flavors persist on the palate after consumption. Tropical notes, specifically toasted coconut and dried pineapple, are more prominent. Spices and oak tannins conclude the fruity finish. Overall, it leaves you wanting another sip to savor slowly. This is a superb spirit. It's nearly flawless in that from the nose to the finish, all aromas and flavors remain present and true. I suspect I'm missing some other aromas/flavors due to the wide range of possible interpretations and complexity, but that's a positive attribute. On this Thanksgiving Eve, in this challenging year, this offers a small, bright moment of joy in a glass. Thank you to the generous friend for providing this rare sample. It is truly wonderful. [97/100][Tasted: 11/25/20]

Sample from a club online. Excellent spirit, a flawless fusion of older Bruichladdich character and the distillery's present style. Smells: Mango, Pineapple, Raspberry, Toffee, Blue Cheese, Flowers, Red Apples, Green Apples, Passion Fruit, Almonds, Banana Bread, Brown Butter Cake, Citrus, Pears, Walnuts, Oranges, Honey, Salted Caramel, Milk Chocolate, Brine, Cinnamon, Nutmeg Taste: Green Apple, Toffee, Apricot, Vanilla, Cherries, Flowers, Citrus, Nutmeg, Red Apples, Cashews, Pears, Sultanas, Blackberries, Raspberries, Mangoes, Bananas, Coconut Aftertaste: Flowers, Vanilla, Strawberries, Red and Green Apples, Grass, Cotton Candy, Sultanas, Raisins, Bananas, Coconuts, Peaches

This was the peak of a recent online Bruichladdich tasting I attended. On the nose: pepper, cream, light toffee sauce, faint berry notes, unusual mushrooms. In the mouth, there are ginger snaps, caramel, and more peppery spice. The finish is long and spicy, with a subtle caramel aftertaste and a hint of sweetness. A wonderful balance and possibly the best Laddie I've tasted so far.

The nose has berries and a slight floral note. The finish is slightly acidic. Really nice and clean, bright, and it reminds me a bit of Japanese whisky (edition no 2).

Truly good and complex taste with numerous flavors.