Mars Whisky The Lucky Cat May & Luna 2023 Release Japanese Whisky

43% ABV, 700 ml, 8th edition in the Mars “Lucky Cat” series

“The Lucky Cat” is a series of blended whiskies featuring unique cats and created using Mars Whisky’s blending techniques.

“The Lucky Cat series” was launched in 2015 with this series being named after the president of the cat-loving Honbo Shuzo. This is the eighth installment of “The Lucky Cat May & Luna”, featuring the oldest cat, May, who appeared in the fourth installment of the series, and the newest addition, Luna, who appeared in the previous installment, the seventh. This is the first time that more than one cat has appeared in this series. The two cats with different personalities are matched with the whisky’s personality, and the blended whisky is characterized by the “aroma from the use of cherry casks” and the “peaty taste” that follows later.

The Mars Lucky Cat bottlings are a series of World Blended Whiskies, created using malt and grain whisky from Japan and Scotland. They have developed a cult following in recent times thanks to the impressive array of tasting notes on offer, the limited nature of their bottlings and, of course, the elegantly designed, stunning cat labels. This one was finished in Manzanilla and Oloroso sherry casks, resulting in a rich, elegant expression that brings hints of marmalade, toasted almonds, birthday cake and dry oak. It’s yet another exquisite bottling from Mars and one that any fan of their whisky should try.

Sandwiched between Japan’s soaring Southern Alps and the towering Central Alps and at just over 2,600 feet, Mars Shinshu is Japan’s highest whisky distillery. The Hombo family has been distilling shochu for more than a century and added whisky to their repertoire in 1949. Back then, the distillery was located in Kagoshima Prefecture on the southernmost island of Kyushu. In 1984, the Hombo clan moved the distillery to the idyllic alpine setting of Miyada village in southern Nagano Prefecture. They chose this site for its cool temperatures, which slow maturation, and the plentiful and soft granite-filtered, snowmelt-fed aquifers.