The best present of the holiday season is not from your parents, friends, or family, but from Starbucks. Each year Starbucks provides its customers with a new selection of mouth-watering holiday drinks. With the holidays just around the corner, we thought it would only be right to get into the holiday spirit by taste testing and ranking each Starbucks holiday drink. We told the Starbucks barista to surprise us with the six finest holiday drinks, and then we jumped right into the test.
White Hot Chocolate with Hazelnut
Beginning with our favorite, this hot white chocolate drink with added hazelnut syrup definitely amazed us. Hot chocolate is one of our very favorite holiday drinks, and the addition of white chocolate improved it even more. It tasted just as white chocolate does, sweet and creamy, and the added kick of hazelnut really made the drink pop. Coming out warm and toasty, it was a perfect concoction made for sipping on a chilly winter night. This calming, chocolatey, and lucious drink had a lingering taste and ended up being the only drink we slurped to the bottom.
We rated this a 9/10.
Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino
A blend of mocha sauce and toffee nut syrup combined with coffee, milk, and ice, this frappuccino was bound to impress us. The topping of the whipped cream, caramel sauce and turbinado sugar was our favorite: it added a crunchy texture and sweetness to each sip. At first sight, the beverage’s attractive appearance was tempting. Its sight matched its taste, and when we tried it, our eyes locked in awe. This unique mixture was not only flavorful, but it was also a party in our mouths.
We rated this an 8/10.
Chestnut Praline Latte
The Chestnut Praline Latte consisted of brewed espresso, caramelized chestnut flavoring, steamed milk, and whipped cream with a sprinkle of praline crumbs on top. It smelled delicious, as if it were a cinnamon vanilla candle. A mix of spices, creaminess, and nutty flavor made this latte taste like the holiday season in your mouth. This was the epitome of a holiday drink, definitely our favorite latte we tried.
We rated this a 7/10.
Caramel Brulée Latte
Creme brulée attracts those with an incredible sweet tooth: how could it not with its rich and captivating taste? However, the results were not what we expected. Before tasting it, we recognized its strong scent of coffee. At first taste, the flavor of coffee was definitely enduring. The addition of caramel didn’t add much to the flavor considering the large amount of heavy milk and cream that were added as well. We concluded that this drink was not one of our favorites because it wasn’t as harmonious and jaw-dropping as some of the other drinks: it definitely could not replace a creme brulee.
We rated this a 5/10.
Eggnog Latte
Neither of us had tried eggnog before; therefore, we were in anticipation of how a drink with such mixed reviews would taste. This latte is formulated with steamed eggnog, espresso, and topped with nutmeg. At just the scent, we both knew this drink wouldn’t be our favorite. The smell was unpleasant and the added nutmeg on top contributed to a taste resembling a Christmas tree. Overall, this was our least favorite drink; however, if you happen to enjoy eggnog, this is a great festive option!
We rate this a 1/10.
No eggnog latte. Note taken.