The holiday season has come once again, which means the return of special limited time offerings of both new and old flavors. This year, Starbucks brought back the holiday favorites such as Gingerbread, Chestnut Praline, and Eggnog, as well as the new additions to last winters line up. We all have our holiday favorites, so I decided I was going to rank this year's holiday drinks.
I will be ranking each drink out of 10 along with my thoughts on the drink. Please note that this does not include fall drinks such as pumpkin spice or maple pecan lattes, nor does it include frappuccinos.
1. Caramel Brulee Latte
One of Starbucks' most popular holiday drinks is the Caramel Brulee Latte. This decidant drink is made with a thick caramel brulee syrup, shots of espresso, steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and finished to perfection with crushed caramel pieces.
This drink is sure to get you i the holiday spirit with just one sip. The sweetness in the syrup melds well with the espresso (particularly the blonde) and brings out the holiday sweet cheer from within. The crunchy topping brings an additional texture while the whipped cream cools down your pallette.
I enjoy the caramel brulee, however, it can be too sweet for my tastes. For that, I give this a an 8/10
2. Peppermint/White Peppermint Mocha
Another popular and traditional favorite is the peppermint mochas. This winter treat comes in both regular, white or black and white (both regular and while chocolate) mocha sauce combined with sweet peppermint syrup, espresso, whipped vream and finsihed with chocolate curls.
While this duo is offered all year round, I find it to be extra comforting in the months of November and December when there's cheer in the air and snow on the ground.
For those who may prefer no coffee, Starbucks also offers this magnificent duo in hot chocolate form so you or your loved one can still enjoy the same drink without the added caffeine.
I love both of these options, and while it's still a little on the sweet side, I do enjoy the refreshing taste from the peppermint. Therefore I rate this drink 9/10
3. Gingerbread Latte
Nothing says Christmas like the taste of hot, sweet and spicy gingerbread. Theres no other way to round out the season than with this holiday staple.
Starbucks' Gingerbread Latte offers the comfort of the delicious baked treat in a way for on the go convenience. Topped with a layer of whipped cram and a dusting of cinnamon powder, this beverage truly tastes like the holidays.
While I do enjoy gingerbread this isn't my go to of the limted time holiday drinks. Personally, I can't really find the gingerbread taste in the latte. I do get a slight hint, but it's not really strong enough on its own without becoming too sweet. For these reasons, I rate this drink a 5/10
4. Chestnut Praline Latte
Another season favorite is Starbucks' Chestnut Praline Latte. This drink has a nutty and sweet taste and is topped with whipped cream and crunchy chestnut praline pieces.
While the topping on its own has a strong clove, the spice mix smell when paired with the rest of the latte compliments the drink well and comes across as a Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavoring melding well with a hot Morning Bun pastry.
I love this drink. It's not my absolute favorite and the smell of the topping is way too strong, however the caramel taste in latte form is magnificent. For this, I give the Chestnut Praline Latte a 8/10.
5. Eggnog Latte
Every year, Starbucks completes their holiday menu with the classic eggnog latte. Made with real steamed eggnog, espresso and topped with ground nutmeg, this treat will surely satisfy that craving without consuming alcohol.
The mix of steamed eggnog and milk allows for the drink to have an eggnog flavor without being completely overpowering.
While I do enjoy eggnog, it's not really my favorite drink, or really up my ally in general. Therefore, I rate this drink 5/10
6. Toasted White Mocha Latte
Toasted White Mocha was the newest addition to the holiday season line up last winter, and I've got to say it is my favorite holiday drink. The mix of toasted white mocha syrup with espresso, steamed milk, whipped cream and topped with festive holiday red sugar crystals with crunchy white balls.
THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SEASONAL DRINK!!!! What the difference between this and regular white mocha is, I don't know, but there's a certain wow factor that makes all the difference.
All I can say is that the creaminess of the syrup with the coffee and whipped cream makes me such a happy girl during the holiday season. I also found that if you add peppermint, it makes a better white peppermint mocha/hot chocolate than the original. I 10/10 highly recommend
