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I swore off combinations of booze and cream liquors shortly after my 21st birthday when a well meaning friend bought me my first and last Irish Car-Bomb. The sensation of curdled Irish cream rocketing forth from one's nose with great force is not quickly forgotten. But I've made an exception for The Knockout's root beer float. It's made with Kemper root beer, vanilla vodka, cream liquor and, of course, a cherry on top.

The problem with most novelty drinks is that they'll give you a cavity before they get you drunk, but this root beer float is not too sweet and it will get you hammered. Stop by The Knockout on Wednesday nights and you can have a float with cheap, delicious, not-at-all sketchy sushi prepared by local sushi wizard Tim Archuleta. Sharing root beer float + $4 dollar sushi rolls = Best Cheap Date ever. --Andy Wright

Skyy isn't my favorite vodka by a long shot (that distinguishment goes to Ketel One), but its creator, Maurice Kanbar, hit a home run with his chocolate cream liquor "Vermeer," which I tried for the first time at Sunday's Chocolate Salon at Fort Mason.

Though a fan of Bailey's whiskey base, the vodka-based shot of Kanbar's creation, which I sampled out of a small plastic cup, had my eyelids drooping in appreciation. Vermeer goes down smooth and sweet, like chocolate milk almost, but with 17% alc./vol. The liquor's website has recipes for everything from martinis to pound cake. Check them out here. --Janine Kahn

Vermeer retails for around $20 and is sold in San Francisco at the following locations. . .

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