The Bond Between Cats in Mars Whisky’s “The Lucky Cat Choco & Luna”

2026.10.05

In short: Mars Whisky’s “The Lucky Cat” series from Hombo Shuzo is inspired by the president’s own cats. The 12th release, “Choco & Luna,” reflects the slightly awkward relationship between two tomboy cats — sweet flavours with a wild finish. Best on the rocks. From Bar Little Happiness, Hiroshima.

“The Lucky Cat” series from Mars Whisky, made by Hombo Shuzo.

Inspired by the beloved cats that the company’s president, Mr Hombo, has lived with, the story now continues up to the 12th release, “Choco & Luna.”

This time, I look at how the cats’ personalities have been turned into blends within the larger framework of “Mars,” which makes whisky in two places: Kagoshima and Nagano.

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The life story drawn by “Mars Whisky”: from Ash in heaven to May, the gentle legends who watched over the Hombo family

At the root of this series is the deep bond built by cats who are no longer with us.

• [Wise, gentle partners] (the legends)
  • Ash (No. 2):
  • Met in 1999 — a one-of-a-kind partner with whom the owner could have “man-to-man conversations.”

• Mint (No. 3):
• A cat who moved in at three months old. Wise and dignified, the “master of the house,” she still had a presence like no other at 16.

• [Affectionate, easygoing types]
  • Sun (No. 1):
  • The cat who opened the series — an utterly affectionate softie.

• May (No. 4 and others):
• A timid cat rescued on a rainy night. Good at vanishing like a ninja; an eccentric yet affectionate elder, she passed away in March 2025 at the age of 20.

The precious time they wove together is now being passed on to a new generation of cats.

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Where the Hombo family is now: tomboys Choco and Luna, and newcomer Solla, playing a lively dissonance

Today, four cats live with the Hombo family (I believe).

But the colour of the community has changed dramatically since the days of the “wise master.”

• Hana:
• The only [easygoing type] in today’s family. A gentle big sister who loves Mrs Hombo’s bed.

• Choco:
• [Tomboy type]. An active “wonder girl,” but in truth a lonely soul who just wants to cling to people and be fussed over.

• Luna:
• [Tomboy type]. Even more mischievous than her senior Choco, yet a cool calico who loves her time alone.

• Solla:
• A marron-cream [tomboy (mischievous) type] who joined in June 2025. The first boy in a long time.

Yes — apart from easygoing Hana, the Hombo household today is all “curious, tomboy types”: Choco, Luna and Solla! (reading between the lines of the product pages)

I hear that with elder May gone and Solla joining, even Choco and Luna, who used to get along, have recently become a little “awkward” with each other.

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The 12th release, refined by Mars’ blending skill: the truth of a complex, beautiful harmony born from the distance between Choco and Luna

Mr Hombo writes: “Does a change of members affect the relationships of the whole group…??”

In whisky blending, that is an extremely important question.

Mars’ blending skill, which goes beyond the framework of a single distillery and handles a wide variety of spirits.

If earlier releases were a “harmony” of gentle personalities, I feel this 12th release, “Choco & Luna,” deliberately expresses a “clash of personalities.”

“Choco, who wants to be fussed over” and “Luna, who wants to be alone.”

As if to express the slightly awkward distance between the two, this bottle is built so that sweet flavours and a wild finish come together.

Blending is not simply putting together things that get along.

It is a “complex harmony” born when spirits with different natures push against and bring out the best in each other.

Personally, I don’t really recommend it as a highball — the finish disappears.

I recommend it on the rocks!!

Hoping that the head of the household’s wish — “I want everyone to live together happily” — will one day lead to a perfectly matured blend.

[A note from Tanimoto] There is little information about Choco & Luna, and quite a lot of my own imagination has gone into this — please bear that in mind.

I believe there is no single right way to enjoy whisky.

Neat, as a highball, or even through something other than taste —

the moment you feel “I love this!” or “This is precious!” is, I think, the best answer for that bottle.

About this bottle

The Lucky Cat Choco & Luna (Mars Whisky, the 12th in the series, inspired by the cats of Hombo Shuzo’s president) can be enjoyed at Bar Little Happiness in two ways:

• Drink it at Bar Little Happiness (the owner, who knows the world of whisky and rum well, will introduce each glass in front of you)

• Take it home in a small sample bottle (sold by measure) from the bar

It is popular with guests who are short on time, who can’t drink much, or who want to take home a souvenir of their trip.

Every encounter is meant to be. Welcome to the world of Rum&Whisky.

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