The Food Safety & Security Authority: A New Chapter for Malta’s Food Future
December 28, 2025
How George Galea left the
world of medicine behind
him to transform his passion
for whisky into a boutique
importing adventure.
When George Galea retired from
medicine, he knew he wasn’t built
for idle days. “I can’t not be doing
anything,” he says. “It’s not me.”
And so he embarked on a plan to
keep busy doing something he is passionate about. Thus,
Barking Owl was born, a small but distinctive importer of
artisanal whisky, gin and wine that has - without too much
fanfare and in an organic way - found its place among
Malta’s more discerning drinkers and restaurateurs.
The name itself bears taking note of, and was born during
a family brainstorming session. “My nephew came up with
it - he’s maybe more stubborn than wise,” George says
with a grin. “And we went with it..” The choice suits the
brand: slightly eccentric, curious and very much its own
thing.
Before embarking on this new adventure, George spent
nearly 40 years in Scotland, where he developed a
fascination with whisky. He toured distilleries, learned
the craft, and eventually began running tastings himself.
Today George does personal whisky tastings to small
groups of people, using various themes to showcase the
varieties and special tastes that the different regions of Scotland can produce.
“I had no wish to compete with
the big importers,” he says. “I wanted to focus on smaller,
independent distilleries doing something original.”
He started working with a Highland distillery producing
single-batch whiskies - once the cask is gone, it’s gone.
“Barking Owl is not about quantity,” he says.
“It’s about
character.” The Badachro distillery owner was previously
a soft drinks company manager and he decided to swap
boardrooms for barrels!
While waiting for the whisky to
mature, he began producing gin using foraged Highland
botanicals, some of which even gathered by local
schoolchildren.
Those gins became George’s first imports,
soon followed by the whiskies themselves.
A bit later, his second partnership took him to Lindores
Abbey, the historic monastery often called the spiritual
home of whisky of whisky.
This is because in 1494
there is the earliest written reference of Scotch
whisky in the Exchequer rolls of that year where
King James IV ordered 8 bols (approximately 400
bottles) from Lindores Abbey through Friar Jon Cor
who was a Benedictine monk at the abbey.
Today, the
site is run by a modern distillery producing small-batch
whiskies known for their exceptional 49.4% strength
and varied cask finishes.
“I bought two casks that are
still maturing,” George says. “I love the relationships
that Barking Owl has given rise to, while being part of
something authentic.”
Beyond whisky
George’s interest soon widened beyond Scotland. A friend
introduced him to Hungary’s Tokaji region, known for its
rich dessert wines. There, he discovered Fuleky, a tiny sixperson
winery producing what he calls “a wine for kings”.
From there, he turned to Georgia, where winemaking
dates back 5,000 years.
“A friend of my daughter’s helped
me reconnect with someone who put me in touch with
two small producers,” he says. Some of their wines are
fermented in Qvevri - underground clay pots - an ancient
and traditional method that gives them their distinct,
earthy flavour.
Today, Barking Owl supplies select restaurants, including
Michelin-starred kitchens, and a few specialist retailers.
“I like to keep it small,” George says. “I do all the tastings
myself and build the relationships personally. Once
people try the products, they usually stay with them.”
A business built on people
For George, the real reward lies in the connections. “I
get to meet everyone - from CEOs to waiters,” he says.
“It keeps me grounded.” Whisky tastings in winter draw
enthusiasts eager to learn about single malts and rare
batches, while the wines have found loyal buyers among
restaurateurs looking for something different.
“I’m not chasing numbers,” he says. “I want to bring in
things you can’t find anywhere else, niche products for
people who appreciate them.”
It’s that blend of curiosity and care that gives Barking Owl
its character.
And for George, it’s a natural shift from a life
spent caring for people to one spent connecting with them
over a good bottle.
Barking Owl is a newly formed, enthusiastic and innovative company, that are keen to establish a market in Malta for a number of niche products in the spirit and wine spheres. So pop the Kork and enjoy!
We are importing a variety of gins and whisky from a small distillery in the village hamlet of Badachro in the North West of Scotland. These gins are artisan, hand crafted from beginning to end. The gins like the distillery are small but perfectly formed.
W: https://barkingowl.mt/ | E: info@barkingowl.mt
Click here to see Horeca Issue 22 online