David Klein

David Klein is the co-founder and head distiller at Ambix Spirits, an artisanal apple brandy distillery based in Sebastopol, California. His path to distilling is circuitous: a physics PhD from Berkeley and a founder of a biotech and medical device instrumentation startup. David’s journey has been shaped by a deep curiosity and a passion for precision. However, his true love has always been fermentation—and apples. He was an early homebrewer and certified beer judge and planted well over a dozen apple trees in the tiny front yard of his first Bay Area home, planting the seed for what would become Ambix Spirits. Today, alongside his partner Zoe, David runs Ambix Spirits, where they cultivate over 300 different varieties of apples, pears, and quince. Using traditional French distillation techniques and equipment, they create award-winning brandies and ciders that reflect their dedication to craft and innovation.