Bowmore Brings Back The Devil's Casks Series
The devil, according to Islay legend, once ran out of places to hide in Bowmore village and escaped the mob by climbing into a whisky cask. That story gave Bowmore's most talked about modern limited editions their name, and now the series is back. Bowmore has announced The Devil's Casks 10 Year Old and The Devil's Casks 22 Year Old, more than a decade after the original trilogy built a devoted following. Both go on sale first through The Whisky Shop.
Did You Know?
The legend says the devil walked into The Round Church in Bowmore village and found no corners to hide in. Locals chased him into the distillery, and he got away inside a cask bound for the mainland.
The new 22 Year Old is made from two casks left over from the original releases, which were first bottled between 2013 and 2015.
This is only the start. Bowmore says it will dig through its archives and bring back other celebrated past expressions in the coming years.
The Release
The 10 Year Old is a 2026 take on the original small-batch Devil's Casks releases. It was matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, meaning casks that were seasoned with sherry and are holding whisky for the first time. It was then finished in first-fill Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks, a very sweet style of sherry. It is bottled at 56.6% ABV. According to the distillery, expect layers of dark fruit and fruitcake wrapped in cocoa and maple syrup, with a thread of smoke running through it.
The 22 Year Old is the collector's piece. It uses two remaining casks from the original releases and was matured for a further decade. It spent 22 years in first-fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, then got a final finish in refill Oloroso, which are casks that have held liquid before and give a gentler influence. At 59.6% ABV, it is a cask strength bottling, meaning it is bottled at its natural high strength rather than diluted. The distillery describes charred fruit and treacle that give way to salty oak and liquorice.
Dr Calum Fraser, Master Blender, Scotch and Irish at Suntory Global Spirits, described the originals as "gone, yet far from forgotten, gems." He said the robust, sweet, dark-fruit character of sherry casks melded with Bowmore's coastal peat smoke and maritime saltiness. Kirsteen Beeston, Global Brand Marketing Director, Scotch and Irish at Suntory Global Spirits, said the series felt like the natural place to start a trip through the archives.
The Story of Bowmore
Bowmore sits on the south eastern shore of Loch Indaal on the Isle of Islay, and it is said to have been founded in 1779 by a local merchant named John P. Simson. It is widely regarded as Islay's oldest licensed distillery, and it is still running today. The distillery is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, a holding company under Suntory Global Spirits, part of Japan's Suntory Holdings.
Bowmore's style balances Islay's coastal peat smoke with a salty, maritime edge, and sherry casks have long been one of the best ways to see the sweeter, darker side of that profile. The original Devil's Casks were a prime example. The trilogy was made up of the 10 Year Old Small Batch Release, the 10 Year Old Small Batch Release II and the Small Batch Release III. They became known for bringing dark fruit, treacle, chocolate, spice and smoke together.
Why It Stands Out
Distilleries are digging into their back catalogues more often, and fans of discontinued bottles tend to notice. Here the 22 Year Old stands out because it links directly to the originals through those two surviving casks. The 10 Year Old, at a far lower price, gives newer drinkers a way into the series without chasing old bottles.
The Details
Style: Islay single malt Scotch whisky
Age: 10 Year Old and 22 Year Old
ABV/Proof: 10 Year Old at 56.6% ABV; 22 Year Old at 59.6% ABV
Cask/Finish: 10 Year Old matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks and finished in first-fill Pedro Ximénez casks; 22 Year Old matured in first-fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, finished in refill Oloroso
Price (SRP): £70.00 for the 10 Year Old and £380.00 for the 22 Year Old in the UK; US equivalents reported as $94 and $509
Availability: Exclusive to The Whisky Shop at launch, then at the Bowmore distillery from December 1. No US retail availability has been confirmed.
Release Date: October 16, 2026
Tonights Poison Take
The 10 Year Old is the easy one to get excited about. Sherry-driven Islay at a fairly approachable price, with the PX finish promising sweetness against the smoke. The 22 Year Old is priced for collectors, but the story of two surviving casks gives it real weight. If you are outside the UK, keep an eye on availability, since the sources only confirm The Whisky Shop and the distillery.
Bar Talk: The Devil's Casks are named after a legend of the devil escaping Bowmore village inside a whisky cask.
Send this to the Islay fan who loves a sherry cask and a good ghost story.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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