Ah yes, it’s finally that magical time of the year when scarves are worn, lights are strung, and everyone is jolly.
But amongst all that lie some of the most glorious seasonal drinks that Starbucks has to offer: the winter holiday drinks.
Each year, the coffee chain drops some festive specialty beverages to help you get into the holiday spirit, but some of them hit harder and fall flatter than others.
The Caramel Brulée Latte, the Chestnut Praline Latte, the Peppermint Mocha, and the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha all made a comeback this year, but for better or for worse?
As a whole, they’re a festive bunch. They’re sweet and glorious in all of their Christmas-y flavors and none of them truly disappoint; there’s a reason they were brought back.
But they definitely all have their ups and downs.
The Caramel Brulée Latte, for example, is incredibly sweet. Like, teeth achingly sweet.
The caramel flavor is there, and it definitely makes me feel like I was sitting in the living room at my dad’s house playing board games and eating candy the week of Christmas, but it’s hard to look past the overpowering sense of pure sugar.
The Chestnut Praline Latte is significantly less intense on the sweetness scale. Of the four drinks, it is the one that tasted the most like actual coffee.
It has some subtle notes of nuttiness, which pair well with the roasted coffee flavor, but nothing about this latte is overpowering — it’s smooth and classic, and definitely brings the holiday cheer without trying too hard.
The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha is the biggest disappointment of the selection, only because it tastes entirely too similar to the regular White Chocolate Mocha.
It’s not bad by any means, it has the modern taste of white chocolate paired with the classic taste of mocha, but this one has some fancy sprinkles on top.
Last but not least is the Peppermint Mocha. This drink is refreshing and is sure to give you that kick that you need for the rest of the day ahead of you.
The bold taste of peppermint combined with the smooth taste of chocolate creates a comforting yet invigorating pairing of flavors that can’t fail.
As always, these seasonal drinks are always available in hot, iced, and frappuccino forms. Get them while you can.
