Where there's brunch, there are Bloody Marys. So at this Sunday's Cinco de Mayo brunch celebration, it just makes sense that we'll be happily sipping Mary's Mexican cousin: the Bloody Maria.

There's nothing more refreshing than a glass of cool lemonade on a warm day.  Sure there are those cartons of pre-made stuff and cans of concentrate, but if you'd like to avoid preservatives and flavor enhancers, then there's nothing easier than making your own.  It's really not that hard, and if you keep a supply of simple syrup in the refrigerator, it's actually quite fast.  Read on for our classic lemonade recipe, plus five easy and delicious variations.

Get ready for a sneak attack. This one looks all warm and malty, but with a name like Evil Twin and from a West Coast brewery like Heretic, you know you're going to be in for a tour of Hop Town. My suggestion: just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Wine: M Côté Mas St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux Rosé NV Brut
Region: Languedoc, France
Price: $17.95

Spring has arrived, so what better way to relax than with a glass of something bubbly, like this delicious and refreshing sparkling wine from Limoux in France’s Languedoc region.

My boyfriend Sam and I have a constant disagreement about what time of day is an okay time to pour a glass of wine or mix a cocktail. This is largely because we both work for ourselves from home and we often end up working in the evenings which makes the typical 5 p.m. happy hour not that great of an idea, I suppose. But what if a drink could actually help with creativity and productivity? 

How do you take your water? Straight up? With a lemon twist? Maybe strawberries are your thing. Yes, water is always refreshing on its own, but it enters ahhhh-inducing territory when you throw in some fruit or herbs. These pitchers make it easy. They all have a special compartment to hold the fruit, which means you just lift it up and out when you're done infusing. Say hello to summer sipping on the porch!

No coffee maker? No problem! You don't even need a grinder or a means of heating water according to the methods in this fun and helpful infographic from Tonx. MacGyver would be proud. 

Do you have a thing for smoky drinks? Have you sipped a trendy smoky cocktail lately, one that goes way beyond the smoke of Scotch and into new territory? Smoky cocktails are a lot of fun to make at home, I discovered recently, and yes, they involve real smoke, and yes, they're just about the best party trick ever. Here's what it looks like to make a smoked cocktail...

Have you ever wondered what drove acclaimed writers, philosophers and musicians like Ernest Hemingway, Jean-Paul Sartre and Glenn Gould? After reading Slate's excellent series on the daily rituals of great artists, I suspect it might be coffee — although a comprehensive list would also need to include alcohol, amphetamines and very little food. 

Barrique is a wine word that most of you will probably already be familiar with. The word 'barrique' means barrel, but not just any type of barrel. Do you know specifically what a barrique is?