Hombo Shuzo Mars Whisky has released the latest addition to its Lucky Cat series. Here’s a look at the product’s flavor profile and details.
“The Lucky Cat” is a series of blended whiskys crafted using Mars Whisky’s blending expertise, featuring a variety of unique cats as motifs.
The “Lucky Cat Series” has been on sale since 2015, named after the cat-loving president of Hombo Shuzo.
In recent years, new releases have typically been timed around February 22, “Cat Day.”
“Solla” was released last November, and this latest release, “Double Individuals Choco & Luna,” has been launched to coincide with Cat Day.
■ Past Lucky Cat Series
| Product Name | Release Date | Number of Bottles Released | Price (Tax Included) | |
| Volume 1 | The Lucky Cat “Sun” | September 25, 2015 | 1,200 bottles | 4,400 yen |
| Volume 2 | The Lucky Cat “Ash 99” | August 25, 2016 | 4,300 bottles | 4,950 yen |
| Volume 3 | The Lucky Cat “Mint” | November 10, 2017 | 3,830 bottles | 4,400 yen |
| Volume 4 | The Lucky Cat “May” | September 22, 2018 | 3,387 bottles | 4,730 yen |
| Volume 5 | The Lucky Cat “Hana” | February 1, 2020 | 3,000 bottles | 4,950 yen |
| Volume 6 | The Lucky Cat “Choco” | March 4, 2021 | 6,700 bottles | 4,950 yen |
| Volume 7 | The Lucky Cat “Luna” | March 30, 2022 | 5,220 bottles | 4,950 yen |
| Volume 8 | The Lucky Cat Double Individuals “May & Luna” | February 24, 2023 | 8,430 bottles | 5,280 yen |
| Volume 9 | The Lucky Cat Double Individuals “Hana & Choco” | February 24, 2024 | 7,920 bottles | 5,720 yen |
| Volume 10 | The Lucky Cat Double Individuals “May & Hana” | February 2025 | 10,000 bottles | 5,720 yen |
| Volume 11 | The Lucky Cat “Solla” | November 2025 | 9,900 bottles | 5,720 yen |
| Volume 12 | The Lucky Cat Double Individuals Choco & Luna | February 27, 2026 | Approx. 10,000 bottles | 5,720 yen |
1. Bottle photos and where to buy
The Lucky Cat Double Individuals Choco & Luna
The Lucky Cat Double Individuals Choco & Luna 
2. Features
“The Lucky Cat” is a series of blended whiskys created using Mars Whisky’s blending expertise, featuring cats with unique personalities as motifs.
The twelfth release in the series, “The Lucky Cat Double Individuals Choco & Luna,” is a blended Whisky inspired by the two cats, Choco and Luna, each with their own unique personalities, featuring a harmonious balance of sweet flavors and a wild, lingering finish.
k.Hombo: “Choco, who turned 9 this past April, and Luna, who turned 5 last fall—while they both love to go outside, Luna prefers to be left alone to relax unless it’s necessary, whereas Choco is always clinging to people and seeking attention. Lately, the relationship between these two cats with such distinct personalities has become a bit strained.Last March, our elder cat May passed away, and in June, Solla joined our household’s cat community. I wonder if changes in the lineup affect the dynamics of the group…?? As their owner, I simply hope that, just like this Whisky—where sweet aromas are balanced and harmonized by a wild finish—everyone in the household can live together happily, despite the unique personalities of these two.”Source: Hombo Shuzo Official Website
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2-1. Tasting Notes
Aroma Milk chocolate, cypress, whole-grain biscuits, mashed potatoes Taste Chocolate croissant, firm custard, bergamot After taste A deep sweetness and a somewhat clean finish fade away 2-2. Product Specifications
Alcohol ContentTypes of Sake in Barrels 43% Type Blended Whisky Barrel-aged Unusually, this information is not disclosed
Content Capacity 700 ml Number of Bottles Sold Approx. 10,000 bottles Suggested Retail Price 5,720 yen (tax included)
3. Awards
No awards have been received to date.
4. Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | The Lucky Cat Double Individuals Choco & Luna |
| Content Capacity | 700 ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 5,720 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari are currently around 9,000yen. (As of March 3, 2025)
4-3. Yahoo! Auctions Winning Bid Price
Items were listed on Yahoo! Auctionsfor around 8,000 yen. (As of March 2, 2026)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, Amazon
On online shopping sites, the item was listed for around 15,000 yen as part of a bundle deal. (As of March 3, 2026)
4-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we offer small portions such as 45ml for 2,310 yen , 30ml for 1,540 yen, and 15ml for 770 yen .
5. Manufacturer
Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd.
| Established | 1872 |
| Headquarters | 27 Minami-Sakae 3-chome, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture 891-0122 |
| Distilleries Owned | Mars Shinshu Distillery, Mars Tsukan Distillery |
6. Distilleries
Mars Komagatake Distillery
| Location | 4752-31 Miyata-mura, Kamiina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-4301 |
| Start of Operations | 1985 |
In 1949, Hombo Shuzo—which had been dedicated to producing the Japanese distilled spirit “shochu” in Kagoshima—obtained a license to manufacture Whisky. Since then, the company has held onto the dream of “one day creating authentic Whisky that makes the most of Japan’s climate and terroir.”
Several years after beginning whisky production in Kagoshima, the company established “Mars Yamanashi Winery” in Yamanashi in 1960 as a facility for producing both wine and whisky. To fully dedicate themselves to whisky production, they then set out to find an even more ideal location.
The natural conditions required for whisky production are extremely demanding: a cold climate with clear air, moderate humidity, and high-quality water.
In search of a location that met these conditions, and seeking the optimal environment for whisky production, Mars Shinshu Distillery was established in 1985 at an elevation of 798 meters at the foot of Mount Komagatake in the Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture.
However, distillation was suspended in 1992 due to sluggish demand for Whisky . Later, as Japanese Whisky began to gain global recognition and demand started to recover, we decided to resume distillation in 2009 and restarted operations in February 2011.
In September 2020, we underwent a full-scale renovation for the first time in 35 years, with an investment of approximately 1.2 billion yen.
Starting in May 2019, the company renovated aging equipment and upgraded barrel storage facilities to accommodate increased Whisky production. They also constructed a new Whisky distillation building (including a barrel storage facility) for Whisky-making tours and a new visitor center for the sale of original Whiskys and merchandise, while renovating existing equipment and facilities.
The newly constructed Whisky distillery building covers 1,996 m² (gross floor area, including a barrel storage facility planned to hold approximately 2,500 barrels), while the visitor center covers 746 m².
■Production Capacity: 1.1 tons of malted barley per day
■ Raw Spirit Production: Approx. 700 L/day, approx. 185 KL/year (planned for FY 2020)
■ Major Equipment: 1 malt mill, 1 6KL Mash Tan Roitel, 3 6KL stainless steel fermentation tanks, 3 6KL Douglas fir fermentation tanks (relocated), 1 first distillation still (relocated)
Source: Hombo Shuzo Official Website
Please also see the information on the Mars Komagatake Distillery below.
7. Summary
Hombo Shuzo’s “The Lucky Cat” series is a whisky that blends the personalities and stories of their cats—who are practically family—with the blending techniques they’ve honed over many years.
This time, the barrel composition is no longer disclosed. You could say it’s overflowing with love for the kitties (lol).
However, as described, it is designed so that you can truly taste the intent behind its creation.
With an easy-to-drink 43% ABV and its cute label, this is a whisky we highly recommend even to those who aren’t usually fond of the spirit.
■ Please be sure to check out our other articles about “Hombo Shuzo.”
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
