6 Bowmore Devil's Casks Releases Compared, From 2013 to 2026

The six Bowmore Devil's Casks releases are Release I (2013, 10 years old, 56.9% ABV), Release II (2014, 10 years old, 56.3%), Release III, Double the Devil (2015, no age statement, 56.7%), the 10 Year Old Inspired by the Devil's Casks for travel retail (2016, 46%, 1 litre), and the 2026 revival: The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old (56.6%) and The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old (59.6%). The three originals were cask strength small batches from first fill sherry casks, and the 22 year old comes from two casks held back from those original releases.

Key Takeaways

• Release I (2013) was a 10 year old matured only in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at cask strength, 56.9%, in a batch of 6,000 bottles.

• Release II (2014) kept the same recipe, 10 years in first fill Oloroso and 6,000 bottles, at 56.3%.

• Release III, Double the Devil (2015), dropped the age statement and married first fill Oloroso with Pedro Ximénez casks for the first time, at 56.7%, as the third and final release.

• The 2016 travel retail edition, Inspired by the Devil's Casks, combined Oloroso casks with red wine barriques and was bottled at 46% in 1 litre bottles.

• The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old (2026) pays homage to the original trilogy: first fill Oloroso sherry casks with a first fill Pedro Ximénez finish, bottled at 56.6%.

• The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old (2026) was made from two casks held back from the original releases, matured in first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks, finished in refill Oloroso and bottled at cask strength, 59.6%.

Tip: The quickest way to tell the three original releases apart is the strength on the label: 56.9% for Release I, 56.3% for Release II and 56.7% for Release III, which is also the only one without an age statement.

Release I (2013) Started the Series With 10 Years in First Fill Oloroso

Bowmore launched The Devil's Casks in 2013 as a small batch of 6,000 bottles. It was a 10 year old matured only in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at cask strength, 56.9% ABV. Full sherry maturation was unusual for Bowmore, which normally combines bourbon and sherry wood.

The name comes from a Bowmore legend. As the distillery tells it, the Devil once visited the round church in Bowmore, a church built round so that he would have no corners to hide in. The congregation chased him down to the distillery, but he vanished. That night casks were loaded onto the Maid of Islay, a small paddle steamer bound for the mainland, and it is believed the Devil escaped in one of them.

Release I sold out quickly. In the United States it launched at about $90, and Whisky Advocate scored it 90 points. On Spiritory it is listed as Bowmore 10 Year Old The Devil’s Casks Small Batch Release.

Release II (2014) Kept the Same 10 Year Oloroso Recipe

The second release was announced in August 2014 and reached UK shops in October. Bowmore kept the formula: 10 years fully matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks, again 6,000 bottles, this time at 56.3% ABV. It launched at about £60.

Critics were split. Whisky Advocate scored it 87 points, a little below the first release, while other reviewers preferred its sweeter, more sherried style. On Spiritory it is listed as Bowmore 10 Year Old The Devil’s Casks Small Batch Release II.

Release III (2015) Doubled the Devil With Pedro Ximénez Casks

Released on 26 October 2015 and billed at the time as the third and final Devil's Casks, Double the Devil broke the pattern. It carried no age statement and married first fill Oloroso casks with first fill Pedro Ximénez casks, the first time the series used PX. It was bottled at cask strength, 56.7% ABV, and launched at £190, far above the first two releases.

Its launch notes described dark fruit, sultana and treacle toffee on the nose, date, chocolate fudge and coffee on the palate, and smoked fruitcake, blood orange and sea salt in the finish.

The 2016 Travel Retail Edition Added Red Wine Casks

A year after the trilogy closed, Bowmore released a 10 Year Old labelled Inspired by the Devil’s Casks Series, exclusively for travel retail in Europe and Asia Pacific. It was not a fourth release. It combined first fill Oloroso sherry casks with red wine barriques, was bottled at 46% rather than cask strength, and came in a 1 litre bottle. It launched at £45.

The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old (2026) Adds a Pedro Ximénez Finish

More than a decade after the trilogy, Bowmore brings the series back with The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old, a 2026 take that pays homage to the three original small batch releases. It is matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and finished in first fill Pedro Ximénez casks, so it pairs the Oloroso of Releases I and II with the PX that Release III introduced.

Bowmore describes it as bold, dark and devilishly indulgent, with dark fruit and fruitcake wrapped in cocoa and maple syrup, and a thread of smoke running throughout. It is bottled at 56.6% ABV.

The 10 Year Old is a global exclusive with The Whisky Shop. Fans can register their interest at WhiskyShop.com from 8 October 2026, and the release follows on 16 October.

The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old (2026) Comes From Two Casks Held Back From the Originals

The second 2026 release has never been released before. Bowmore crafted it from two remaining casks held back from the original releases and left them to mature for another decade. In total it spent 22 years in first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, followed by a final finish in refill Oloroso, and it is bottled at cask strength, 59.6% ABV.

Bowmore describes it as opulent and deeply complex, with charred fruit and treacle giving way to savoury notes of salty oak and liquorice. It is offered through a Whisky Shop ballot from 31 October 2026, open to everyone who buys the 10 Year Old, and from 1 December 2026 both new releases are also available at the Bowmore distillery.

Bowmore calls The Devil's Casks the start of a new chapter from its archives. Over the coming years, the distillery will bring back some of its most celebrated past expressions and reinterpret them through its whisky making today.

Tip: When comparing bottles, check the age and strength first. The three originals are cask strength 700 ml bottles at 56.9%, 56.3% and 56.7%, the travel retail edition is a 1 litre bottle at 46%, the 2026 10 Year Old is 56.6%, very close to Release III, and the 2026 22 Year Old is 59.6%, the strongest and oldest in the series.

FAQ

How many Bowmore Devil's Casks releases are there?

Six: Release I (2013), Release II (2014), Release III, Double the Devil (2015), the travel retail 10 Year Old Inspired by the Devil's Casks (2016), and the 2026 revival with The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old and The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old.

Which Devil's Casks release has no age statement?

Release III, Double the Devil, from 2015. The 2026 22 Year Old is the oldest, and all the others are 10 years old.

Which Devil's Casks releases were bottled at cask strength?

The three originals, Release I at 56.9%, Release II at 56.3% and Release III at 56.7%, and the 2026 22 Year Old at 59.6%. The 2026 10 Year Old is 56.6% and the travel retail edition is 46%.

What casks are used for the 2026 releases?

The 10 Year Old is matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and finished in first fill Pedro Ximénez casks. The 22 Year Old spent 22 years in first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks before a final finish in refill Oloroso.

Why is it called The Devil's Casks?

In Bowmore legend, the Devil was chased from the round church to the distillery and is believed to have escaped in a cask aboard the Maid of Islay, bound for the mainland.

Where can I buy the 2026 Devil's Casks releases?

Both are a global exclusive with The Whisky Shop. The 10 Year Old is released on 16 October 2026, the 22 Year Old is offered through a Whisky Shop ballot from 31 October for buyers of the 10 Year Old, and from 1 December 2026 both are also available at the Bowmore distillery.