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08.10.2026
Bowmore Revives The Devil's Casks with a New 10 Year Old and 22 Year Old
Bowmore The Devil's Casks 10 and 22 Year Old bottles with their gift boxes on a cask in a red lit Islay cellar
Bowmore Revives The Devil's Casks
Bowmore, Islay's oldest licensed distillery, is bringing back The Devil's Casks more than a decade after the original limited editions built a cult following among whisky lovers. The new series has two limited edition single malts. The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old is a 2026 take that pays homage to the original three small batch releases. The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old has never been released before. It was made from two casks held back from the original releases and matured for another decade.
Both whiskies are a global exclusive with The Whisky Shop, the UK's largest specialist whisky retailer.
The Original Trilogy and the Legend
Bowmore first released The Devil's Casks between 2013 and 2015. The trilogy showed a darker, richer side of Bowmore, shaped by sherry casks, with layers of dark fruit, treacle, chocolate and spice around the distillery's signature smoke. The three originals are Bowmore 10 Year Old The Devil's Casks Small Batch Release, Bowmore 10 Year Old The Devil's Casks Small Batch Release II and Bowmore The Devil's Casks Small Batch Release III.
The name comes from one of Bowmore's best known local legends. The devil is said to have entered the Round Church in Bowmore village, only to find there were no corners to hide in. Chased by the locals into Bowmore distillery, he escaped inside a whisky cask bound for the mainland.
The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old
The 10 year old is matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and finished in first fill Pedro Ximénez casks, which gives it an intensely rich character. Bowmore describes layers of dark fruit and fruitcake, wrapped in cocoa and maple syrup, with a thread of smoke running throughout. It is bottled at 56.6% ABV.
The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old
The 22 year old spent 22 years in first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, followed by a final finish in refill Oloroso. 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.
A New Chapter from the Bowmore Archives
“The Devil’s Casks became one of Bowmore’s most memorable modern limited editions, combining Bowmore folklore with an intensely rich, flavour-led expression of the distillery’s character,” says Dr Calum Fraser, master blender, Scotch and Irish at Suntory Global Spirits. “Revisiting the series more than a decade later gave us the opportunity to explore what made those original whiskies so distinctive, while offering Bowmore devotees the chance to once again experience these gone, yet far from forgotten, gems.”
The Devil's Casks also opens a new chapter for the distillery. Over the coming years, Bowmore will bring back some of the most celebrated expressions from its past and reinterpret them through its whisky making today.
Release and Availability
The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old is released on 16 October 2026 through The Whisky Shop, online and in its 22 UK stores. Whisky fans can register their interest at WhiskyShop.com from 8 October. The 22 Year Old will be offered through a Whisky Shop ballot from 31 October, open to everyone who buys the 10 Year Old. From 1 December 2026, both whiskies will also be available at the Bowmore distillery on Islay.
Collectors looking for the original trilogy can find the 2013 to 2015 releases on Spiritory, including Bowmore The Devil's Casks Small Batch Release III.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new Bowmore The Devil's Casks releases?
Two limited edition Islay single malts: The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old at 56.6% ABV and The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old at 59.6% ABV. They revive the series Bowmore first released between 2013 and 2015.
How is The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old matured?
It is matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and finished in first fill Pedro Ximénez casks.
What makes the 22 Year Old special?
It has never been released before. It was made from two casks held back from the original releases, matured for 22 years in first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, finished in refill Oloroso and bottled at cask strength.
When and where are the new releases available?
Both are a global exclusive with The Whisky Shop. The 10 Year Old is released on 16 October 2026, and the 22 Year Old is offered through a Whisky Shop ballot from 31 October for buyers of the 10 Year Old. From 1 December 2026 both are also available at the Bowmore distillery.
Why are they called The Devil's Casks?
The name comes from a Bowmore legend. The devil entered the Round Church in Bowmore village, found no corners to hide in, was chased by locals into the distillery and escaped inside a whisky cask bound for the mainland.
About the author
Spiritory Team
Spiritory is a team of dedicated Whisky, Rum and Spirits Enthusiast. Our passion for the product, craftmanship and art of producing the finest spirits in the world will be represented in every article we write on our blog-page. Our goal is to produce content which is interesting to read and for a broad base of consumers, enthusiasts, investors and collectors.