BODY: Uma Musume fans who are old enough to drink have two new bottles to hunt for. WHISKYMEW is releasing two whiskies based on characters from Uma Musume Pretty Derby, and they will only be sold by lottery.
The two bottles are inspired by Dream Journey and Epiphaneia. Each one has a label with artwork of its horse girl. Uma Musume is Cygames' multimedia franchise, which spans a mobile game, anime and more. Both whiskies are being made in limited numbers.
Lottery entries open on September 25, 2026 at 12:00 JST. WHISKYMEW hasn't shared overseas shipping details in the announcement. International fans will probably need a proxy or forwarding service. They should also check their own country's rules on importing alcohol.
Both characters are named after real racehorses with famous careers. Dream Journey won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes as a two-year-old, then took both the Takarazuka Kinen and the Arima Kinen in 2009. He was small for a racehorse but finished races very fast. He was also the older full brother of Triple Crown winner Orfevre, and in the franchise Dream Journey is Orfevre's big sister. Epiphaneia won the 2013 Kikuka-sho and then the 2014 Japan Cup by four lengths. He later became a top sire, whose offspring include Triple Tiara winner Daring Tact and Efforia.
The insider take
In Japan, a limited release like this is usually sold by lottery. It gives every fan the same chance, and it makes it harder for resellers to buy up the stock. Expect lots of entries and some bottles showing up on Mercari at high prices. Whisky collaborations have become a steady business for Japanese fan merchandise. Uma Musume's fanbase is older than most, and many fans are longtime horse racing followers, so it's a natural fit for character whisky. Choosing Dream Journey and Epiphaneia is a smart move. Neither horse is as famous as Gold Ship or Kitasan Black, but both are loved by fans who have been betting since the 2010s, and those fans are the ones most likely to buy a whisky with a horse girl on it. One more thing: Japan's drinking age is 20, and sellers here do check.
Originally reported by 4Gamer.net โ ๆๆฐ่จไบ (Japanese).