In my opinion, the holiday season officially starts once Starbucks releases its holiday drink lineup. Being both a Christmas and a coffee enthusiast, I’ve already tried all of this year’s drinks (minus the Chestnut Praline Latte since I have an allergy). Of the five drinks I’ve tried, there were many many hits and, unfortunately, a few misses. To better inform your winter Starbucks runs, here’s my ranking and reviews of the 2022 Starbucks holiday drinks.
- Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
-
Coming in last for me is the White Chocolate Mocha. To be fair, I was skeptical when trying this one since I’m not a big white chocolate fan. However, I honestly couldn’t taste the white chocolate at all. In fact, I couldn’t really taste much in this drink other than milk. Though, this may have just been how my particular drink was made. I could taste the “toasted” part of the drink, but without any other prominent flavors, it was pretty lackluster. I wouldn’t recommend this one for getting in the holiday spirit.
- Caramel Brulee Latte
-
I didn’t particularly dislike this latte, but it wasn’t anything special to me. I would’ve liked it a little more if it wasn’t branded as a holiday drink since it didn’t feel super festive. All I could taste was a strong flavor of caramel syrup, likely what you’d expect from a normal caramel latte. Overall, the drink was kind of average but definitely not terrible. If you’re into caramel drinks, it may be worth a shot.
Starbucks - Irish cream Cold Brew
-
Let’s move onto the drinks I really enjoyed and start with the Irish Cream Cold Brew. This cold brew is topped with Irish cream cold foam and cocoa powder, and it is exactly the kind of drink I’d typically order. Something about a simple cold brew with any kind of cold foam hits the spot. It wasn’t too sweet, which was a big plus for me. Is it the most festive drink? Definitely not. It tastes more like something I’d order in the summer. However, I will never turn down a good cold brew, and this one did not disappoint.
Starbucks - Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
-
I discovered the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte last year, and I fell in love. Despite what the name implies, it’s actually not sickeningly sweet. It has a vanilla, almost buttery cookie taste that I love. This flavor, combined with the blonde espresso and festive red and green sprinkles, is so good. This is Starbucks’ first non-dairy holiday drink, making it the perfect option for pretty much anyone. With the ever fluctuating weather in Los Angeles, I tend to get the iced version, but I’m sure the hot version is equally yummy.
- peppermint Mocha
-
Step aside Pumpkin Spice Latte, the superior holiday drink is back. For me, the Peppermint Mocha is the quintessential holiday drink that I will return to every year. The balance between the peppermint and chocolate is perfect, especially with a hint of espresso. If you’re not in the mood for caffeine, the peppermint hot chocolate is a great similar tasting alternative.
Connor Surdi
Overall, I did enjoy this year’s holiday drinks. In my opinion, nothing screams holiday season quite like a fun and festive coffee drink. Try one of these on your next Starbucks run to get in the holiday spirit!