Freddi with Michael Lambert and Henrik Henriksen at Lambert's home bar. (Cocktail photos provided by publishers Ryland Peters & Small Inc.)

To start things off, travel to some of the hottest bars in town and get the scoop on the coolest signature drinks and the finest liquors. Then, visit with entrepreneur Michael Lambert, whose home bar at his beach house in Malibu combines elements of his personality and tastes to create the ultimate in seaside entertaining.

• Maker's Mark is the oldest operating distillery in the U.S. and has been using the same family recipe since 1840.
  
• The term "small batch" was coined by Jim Beam to describe the use of smaller barrels to enhance taste.
  
• The practice of growing pears in the bottle is traditional in Alsace, where pear brandy has been made for hundreds of years.
  
• A bottle of "Pear-In-The-Bottle" Brandy lists for $79.
  
• Erté was a noted connoisseur of cognac. The vintage at the heart of Courvoisier Erté dates back to 1892, the year of his birth.
  
• A bottle of Courvoisier Erté ranges in price from $500 to $2500, depending on the design.
  
• Once an aged rum is bottled, there's no longer any benefit from age.
  
• In order to be labeled "tequila," the product must be produced in or around the town of Tequila, Mexico.

Maker's Mark (Loretto, Kentucky): Maker's Mark is considered one of the finest bourbons to come out of Kentucky's famous region of distilleries. It's also available with a personalized label. Price: $45
502-459-7884
www.makersmark.com

Clear Creek Distillery (Portland, Oregon): Clear Creek produces Pear-in-the-Bottle pear brandy, the end product of a labor-intensive process in which a pear is grown inside the bottle. Price: $79
503-248-9470
www.clearcreekdistillery.com

Courvoisier's Erté Collection: The art deco painter Erté created eight exclusive designs for the decanters of this fine cognac. Price: $500 - $2500
203 221-5485
www.courvoisier.com

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