Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? Were you thrilled when the new season kicked off on March 31? If you're enjoying your fresh helpings of sword 'n' sorcery fantasy goodness as much as we are (yes we are fantasy geeks around here!) then you have to see this lavish lineup of cocktails designed to be sipped with Game of Thrones. From Tyrion to Ygritte, there's a cocktail here for your favorite character. 

For the health conscious, Sparkling Ayala's Herbal Water hits all the notes: it's organic, sugar-free, and made without sweeteners, preservatives, additives, or colorants. But the best part is what it does contain: creative herbal extract combinations that make this an elegant standalone beverage or cocktail mixer. 

In our house we keep the liquor in a tall wood cabinet I found for a song at a thrift store in Manhattan. It stands against the wall near our dining table, which is between the kitchen and the living room. (I like the proximity to both places.) It works for us now, but we're moving soon, so I'm curious to see how other people store their spirits. Do they keep them out in the open on a bar cart? Grouped together on the countertop? Set up side by side on a shelf? Here are 10 examples culled from our Kitchen Tours for a little inspiration.

I have imbibed my fair share of drinks at trendy cocktail bars, and after a while, a gal starts to pick up a thing or two about making a top-notch cocktail. It's not always about fancy artisan spirits or the enthusiasm with which you shake that cocktail shaker. Just as often, it's the little things that make the difference — simple things that can take our own cocktails from good to restaurant-worthy.

A trimmed-down cocktail ingredient list will still yield some of the most classic and enjoyable drinks. I asked some food writer friends, all well-versed in cooking and the ways of the bar, about their simplest go-to cocktails — no more than three ingredients-ish (does garnish count? We remained agnostic on this point). 

And guess what? There wasn't a single repeat in their answers! From the Champagne-driven (Pomegranate Bellini!) to the classic (a Negroni is always a good answer) come get a dozen great drinks to add to your repertoire. 

If you've been in a cocktail rut, we're about to bust you out of it. In what just happened to be perfectly timed with The Kitchn's Cocktail Week, yesterday New York Magazine unveiled 50 cocktail recipes, one from every state (plus D.C) — all recipes gathered from a country in the throes of a cocktail renaissance They're calling this a "cocktail terroir," or as close as one can get to such a thing: original, innovative recipes often made with local spirits and homemade infusions, syrups, and ingredients. If you get tired of one drink, there are 49 others to try. 

In cooking and baking, I refer to certain dishes as "bridge recipes." You know the ones: food that gives you a peek into the new season without fully committing to the produce or the feeling of the days ahead. Right now, an asparagus tart would be considered a bridge recipe for brunch. If you're in California (sigh), strawberry shortcakes are your early peek into spring. But there are bridge cocktails, too — drinks that give you a glimpse into longer, warmer days even though we're not quite there yet. This is one such drink. 

Even though you can ask your guests to bring alcohol, I always feel a little lame asking folks to contribute, especially when I can throw a great feast on my own. Alcohol can be a large expense, so if you're looking to cut costs and spend your dough on the food, try this simple formula for a refreshing dinner party sipper. 

Do you have a favorite bargain spirit? Something with a lower than average price tag that delivers great value every time?

We recently posed this question to 7 cocktails and spirits professionals — writers and bloggers, a spirits sommelier, and a store buyer — and found their responses fascinating. Here are 7 of their top picks: More