Ghost in the Shell’s Motoko Kusanagi Inspires New Official Limited-Edition Whisky Collection
Image by Charlotte DavisGhost in the Shell has officially teamed up with WHISKY MEW to unveil a new limited-edition collection of premium Scotch whiskies inspired by its latest television anime.
The collection features a 31-year-old Secret Speyside 1994 and a 15-year-old Glen Grant 2009, both specially selected by whisky critic Hideo Yamaoka and presented with official artwork from Science SARU’s 2026 anime adaptation.
Ghost in the Shell began as a manga by Masamune Shirow in 1989, introducing a futuristic world where artificial intelligence, cybernetic enhancement and direct connections between human minds and computer networks have become commonplace.
The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi and Public Security Section 9 as they investigate increasingly complex cybercrimes, with the franchise subsequently expanding through multiple anime series, movies and a Hollywood live-action adaptation.
The latest television anime, “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL,” premiered in July 2026 and was produced by Science SARU, returning the franchise to a visual style closely inspired by Shirow’s original manga.
Directed by Mokochan, the series features Maaya Sakamoto as Motoko Kusanagi alongside a returning lineup of familiar characters, with its worldwide streaming release handled through Amazon Prime Video.
For this new whisky collection, specialist retailer WHISKY MEW has selected two aged Speyside single malts, each featuring artwork from the anime across its bottle label.
The first release, “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Label / Secret Speyside 1994,” was distilled in 1994 and matured for 31 years before bottling at 49.2% alcohol by volume.
Its aroma combines baked apple, orange marmalade and almond confectionery, with a sweet, fruity flavor supported by gentle woody notes and a long finish.
The whisky is bottled in a standard 700 ml format, with production limited to 255 bottles in total, of which 190 have been allocated to the public lottery.
The second release, “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Label / Glen Grant 2009,” offers a younger 15-year-old single malt bottled at 53.8% alcohol by volume.
It combines malty sweetness with honey and vanilla aromas, followed by a fruity flavor reminiscent of chocolate cake containing dried fruit and a slightly spicy finish.
Production is limited to 396 bottles worldwide, with 350 available through the lottery, making it the more widely produced of the two releases.
Both whiskies were selected by Hideo Yamaoka, an experienced whisky critic and collector who supervises WHISKY MEW’s collaborations with manga, anime and other Japanese entertainment properties.
Ghost in the Shell has previously received several other official whisky releases through WHISKY MEW, including a collection inspired by Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 anime movie and separate bottles featuring artwork from Shirow’s original manga.
The latest anime has also inspired several premium collectibles during 2026, including a limited-edition mechanical watch from PREMICO incorporating design elements based on Motoko Kusanagi’s cybernetic body.
Bandai has also revealed new figures of Motoko and the Fuchikoma thinking tank, drawing directly from Science SARU’s character designs for the television series.
WHISKY MEW has continued expanding its wider anime whisky lineup throughout 2026, recently revealing another limited-edition collection featuring Dream Journey and Epiphaneia from Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, alongside another inspired by Sui Ishida’s Tokyo Ghoul.
Image by Charlotte DavisThe new “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL” Label / Secret Speyside 1994 is priced at ¥39,600 (approximately $250/£189), while the Glen Grant 2009 costs ¥23,100 (approximately $146/£110).
Both releases will be sold through a lottery on the official WHISKY MEW website, with applications opening at 12:00 PM JST on October 27 and closing at 11:59 PM JST on November 3, 2026.
Successful applicants will receive the opportunity to purchase their selected whisky, with applications limited to a maximum of two bottles of each release per person.
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