George Koutsakis

George Koutsakis is an accomplished entrepreneur and expert in the spirits industry, currently serving as the Founder of Barrel Global and Coachbuilt Whisky since 2022. Koutsakis has gained significant media experience as the host of 'Unmapped' for the South China Morning Post since 2019, while also contributing as a Drinks & Spirits Writer for Forbes and as a Freelance Writer for Food & Wine and Wine Enthusiast since 2018. Previous roles include Head of Whisky & Spirits at Spink and Son Ltd. in Hong Kong, and Visiting Professor & Writer at The Alcohol Professor, where in-depth features on Japanese whisky and spirits were crafted. Koutsakis has also held positions as Investment Specialist & Marketing Director at Rare Finds Worldwide and Brand Director at CaskX. Educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Glasgow Caledonian University and a Certificate of Achievement in the Culture of Services from Kyoto University.