Turn on your Christmas lights and grab your keys, because the Starbucks holiday drinks are here! What’s a better way to get in the holiday spirit than to try the new, festive drinks from Starbucks? The eight new or recurring winter drinks are perfect for anyone who loves Starbucks and holiday flavors (P.S.. There’s also a new snowman cake pop and a turkey sage danish).
Chestnut Praline Latte 7/10
At first, I felt this drink lacked flavor, but the Chestnut Praline Latte grew on me. It tastes like candied walnuts in warm milk and is a perfect comfort drink for chilly winters!
Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai 6.5/10
This drink is for someone who loves sweet and spiced drinks! If you can’t handle 45 grams of sugar, then this isn’t for you. However, this is by far the prettiest drink from the holiday menu that screams curling up by the fireplace with a blanket! Starbucks nailed the signature chai flavor, and there’s also a subtle hint of gingerbread. If you’re not a fan of sugar, Bobo’s Iced Oatmilk Chai is a good alternative.
Iced Caramel Brulée Latte 6/10
The slightly sweet but not overpowering rich and creamy caramel taste is yummy. The crunchy caramel brulee topping is super satisfying and the whipped cream adds to this mouthwatering winter drink. However, despite being delicious, the taste is similar to the other caramel lattes Starbucks has year-round, somewhat taking away from its exclusive appeal.
Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Milk Latte 5.5/10
The Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Milk Latte is Starbucks’ popular Blonde Espresso with the addition of oat milk, sugar cookie syrup, and holiday sprinkles. This drink tastes like sugar cookie dough with a LOT of vanilla added. The Sugar Cookie Latte originally comes with almond milk but I recommend swapping it out with oat milk for a creamier and cozy taste.
Cran-Merry Drink 5.5/10
The Cran-Merry Drink tastes pretty similar to the other cranberry drinks but it has coconut milk which tones the cough syrup flavor down and makes for a delicious winter drink!
Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher 5/10
The Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher tastes exactly the same as the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher other than a slight hint of Sprite Limeade. All in all, the cherry and citrusy flavors blend together for a refreshing winter drink!
Cran-Merry Orange Refresher 4.5/10
This drink honestly tastes like cherry cough medicine. If you like that, it will become your new favorite winter drink. As someone who hates cherry flavoring, I’m not a fan of this drink. To each their own, lots of people still opt for the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher over the Strawberry Acai Lemonade Refresher during the winter.
Peppermint Mocha 2/10
I really had high hopes for this drink—peppermint and chocolate, two signature winter flavors combined as one. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, the chocolate flavor is hardly noticeable, and the coffee tastes overwhelmingly bitter and concentrated. Although the Peppermint Mocha is more visually appealing compared to some of the other drinks, the combination of peppermint and coffee is not my favorite.
