As winter is quickly approaching, it’s officially warm drink weather, perfect in time for Starbucks’ holiday drinks that dropped on Nov. 6. My go-to has always been a half-sweet white peppermint mocha. I get it half sweet because with all of those pumps of syrup, it begins to have a kinda thick consistency. Additionally, I prefer the white chocolate over the usual dark chocolate because I love the much lighter, almost vanilla taste it provides. The point of this piece wasn’t to order my usual, but to step out of my comfort zone and see what the rest of the menu has to offer.
Before we get into it, I want to say how nice my experience was. After explaining to the barista what I was doing, she made me four drinks from the holiday menu to try for free, all in small 3-ounce cups, perfect for tasting. These four drinks were the iced peppermint mocha, iced caramel brulee latte, iced gingerbread chai, and the iced sugar cookie latte.
Iced Peppermint Mocha
My initial reaction to this drink every time I order it, or receive it by accident, is that initial thick mocha flavor you’re greeted with, due to the mocha sauce they use. It’s then accompanied by an equally strong mint flavor paired with the espresso. This taste for me is a little strong and repetitive, and reminds me a lot of their peppermint hot chocolate. If you’re more of a strong coffee drinker, you’ll find that this drink is probably just the right amount of sweetness and holiday cheer for you; me, not so much. Overall, when I do accidentally order or receive this drink, I’m never fully mad because it does provide this sense of familiarity, predictable comfort you can’t always get from these other drinks.
Iced Caramel Brûlée Latte
My next sip was from the iced caramel brûlée latte. This one was a pleasant surprise. I definitely prefer my winter drinks hot, but you have to make some sacrifices, tiny cups and all, since these 3-oz cups were iced. All of the drinks had a small hint of water to them, but that didn’t hinder this drink from what I could tell it was trying to be. The first taste is caramely and light with a nice taste of blonde espresso. I loved the strong taste of caramel, which made a nice comparison to my usual caramel macchiato. Overall, this was my second favorite of the day; we’ll get to my first next.
Iced Gingerbread Chai
This one surprised me. Initially, the name made me worry a little. I’m not the biggest gingerbread fan, and with it being called a gingerbread chai, I didn’t know what to expect. But let’s just say I was apprehensive about the gingerbread flavor, but it was very well done in this sweet chai! With similar flavors to the pumpkin cream one featured in the fall menu. Overall, this drink was a top pick of the day. With hints of festive gingerbread and sweet, yummy cold foam, it’s a perfect treat.
Iced Sugar Cookie Latte
This one was probably in last place. It’s cute and festive with the little sprinkles touch. But with the strong flavors from the almond milk and espresso, making it almost taste like it could be a cold brew or plain coffee, the sugar cookie flavor wasn’t shining through. If you’re in the mood for a not super sweet drink, or are dairy-free, this would be a great option for you!
To wrap it up, the gingerbread chai was my pick of the day, but it was so fun trying all of the different drinks. I hope this review encourages you to go check out their holiday menu and find your favorite festive drink!
