By Reagan Lynch | Staff Writer
December 17, 2024
Starbucks offers numerous holiday drinks; some are delightful to sip and others are not so appetizing. This year's lineup includes the Cran-Merry Orange Refreshers, the Caramel Brulée Latte, the Peppermint Mocha, the Gingerbread Oat milk Chai, the Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, and the Chestnut Praline Latte. Of all the holiday drinks listed, one is a clear favorite among Starbucks lovers.
The newest addition to the Starbucks holiday lineup is the Cran-Merry Refreshers. An article from theeverygirl.com explains that the Cran-Merry Coconut Milk refresher tastes like a watery, sweet tart. Some claimed that the drink tasted like sour medicine. I tried this drink with lemonade and it was a little too sweet for me to enjoy. The majority of people agree that this drink tastes much better plain or with lemonade instead of coconut milk. There is no in-between with the drink; you either love or hate it.
Next up is the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. I am not a fan of this drink. It has a strange aftertaste and the sprinkles create a weird texture.
“This is also advertised as an iced drink, but it might be better as a hot drink instead,” the article said.
Overall, the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte is worse this year than it has been in years past.
Another article from thelesabre.com also agreed with the fact that the sprinkles did not help the drink at all.
“I’d probably ask for this without the sprinkles next time because it threw me off. I’d take a sip and get a mouthful of sprinkles which was a weird feeling,” the second article said.
The sprinkles in the drink give a weird texture that most people are not a fan of. This drink has very different reviews, but it is not the favorite holiday drink of the majority of people.
Another holiday drink that fell flat in the eyes of Starbucks lovers was the Gingerbread Latte, not to be confused with the Gingerbread Chai Latte.
“When you would first take a small sip it was good, but the ginger overpowered too much,” the second article said.
On the other hand, reviews of the Iced Gingerbread Chai Latte were mostly neutral. Some say this drink tastes similar to the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte; however, I completely disagree with this statement. I loved the flavor of this drink, the cinnamon in the drink mixes well with the Chai tea.
“It tastes like brown sugar and cinnamon oatmeal,” the second article said.
The major factor in liking this drink is whether or not you like oat milk. If you do not like oat milk, this drink will not be a pleasant experience for you. I, however, enjoyed this drink, partly because I prefer oat milk.
Another drink in the Starbucks Holiday Lineup is the Chestnut Praline Latte. There are also varying reviews of this drink. Some loved it, while others hated it.
Overall, I did not enjoy this drink. The chestnut flavor was extremely potent and made the drink very hard to stomach.
The other takeaway from this drink is the difference between last year's drink and this year's.
“I remember this drink being much better to be honest. I was very confused when I took a sip, and it was nothing like I remembered,” the second article said.
The overarching theme of this drink is that the 2023 drink was much better than this year's drink.
The Caramel Brulée Latte is a favorite of many. This is my second favorite holiday drink on the Starbucks menu. To me, this drink screams winter. This drink tastes like butterscotch and reminds me of those little butterscotch hard candies my grandma has, giving its taste a sense of nostalgia.
My only negative feedback for this drink is the sweetness.
“This drink is super sweet. I am not a huge fan of [syrupy] drinks, however, when I was a little kid I would have absolutely loved this. This drink makes more sense as a Frappuccino which they do offer this drink as a frappe as well!” the second article said.
While all drinks have their upsides, one drink has proven time and again to be an all-time favorite holiday drink: the Peppermint Mocha.
This is my favorite drink for several reasons. The peppermint reminds me of candy canes and Christmas, while the mocha reminds me of hot chocolate on a cold winter day. This drink is the perfect representation of winter. It is also the most comforting drink on the menu solely because of the nostalgia this drink brings.
“There’s just something about taking a sip of a Peppermint Mocha in a Starbucks holiday cup that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s a true classic, and we all agreed that we like to have at least one per year,” the second article said.
The Peppermint Mocha is available iced, hot, or as a frappuccino, appealing to people who like different types of drinks.
My favorite version of this drink is the classic hot Peppermint Mocha because it reminds me of Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
The Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino is favored among those who prefer sweeter drinks.
“We all can agree that despite the delicious peppermint flavor, it’s a bit too much for an everyday drink. If you are looking for something that tastes nothing like coffee and more like a mint chocolate milkshake, this one will be perfect for you,” the first article said.
The Starbucks Holiday Drink Lineup is always a huge hit. This year, some drinks proved to be better than others. While everyone is subject to their own opinion, the Peppermint Mocha is known for being a nostalgic drink, a complete representation of winter, and, on top of that, the best winter Starbucks drink.