The long-awaited beverage release has finally arrived. On Thursday, November 6, Starbucks came out with their 2025 holiday menu. This year, five festive drinks were added to the menu to spread holiday cheer. The drinks can be customized with different cold foams or syrups to make the drink perfectly enjoyable. Unfortunately, the drinks are pricey, so there is no room for a mistake in choosing which one to enjoy. Lucky for you, I tried them out and ranked them to help you decide what drink is worth the splurge.
- Iced Sugar Cookie Breve
Originating from the well-known Sugar Cookie Latte, this customization was ordered by so many customers that it got its own spot on the menu. The main difference is the base, changing from a blonde espresso latte to a velvety half-and-half blend. Although this was a tasty alternative to the original drink, I would prefer a standard Iced Sugar Cookie Latte, earning it the last spot on my list.
- Caramel Brulée Latte
The caramel flavor appears year-round in the Caramel Frappuccino, but this version gives it a festive twist. With an espresso base, this drink features a combination of steamed milk and rich caramel brulée sauce, topped with whipped cream and caramel brulée topping. The drink has options to be served as a hot, iced, or blended frappuccino drink. The caramel flavor has a bittersweet after-taste that makes the drink taste less like a coffee and more like a sweet treat. This drink is a dessert-lover’s dream come true, but it was too rich for me to enjoy on a normal weekday afternoon.
3. Peppermint Mocha
As much as I loved this drink, the top three are a very competitive place on my list. This drink is a classic staple on the menu, consisting of steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup, and it’s topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. This drink can also be ordered as iced, hot, or frappuccino, but I recommend ordering it hot. A sip delivers the comforting feeling of the holiday season with a chocolatey taste. As much as I loved the taste of this drink, two others top it in my books.
2. Sugar Cookie Latte
This fan-favorite is definitely worth trying. Paired with the cold foam of your choice (I recommend sugar cookie flavor) and festive sprinkles, this drink makes you feel like you are actually eating a cookie. Not only does this drink have the perfect Instagram-worthy look to it, but it also tastes like a drink that would be served in the North Pole. Ordered hot, iced, or blended, the blonde espresso has a smooth taste, pairing perfectly with the mix of flavors. This drink comes very close to taking first place, but one drink outshines it.
- Iced Gingerbread Chai
Finally, the best holiday drink award goes to the Iced Gingerbread Chai. As the only drink on the menu that’s not a coffee, this gingerbread treat is made of warm chai, milk, and is topped with gingerbread cold foam and spice topping. For an extra vanilla flavor, I recommend adding two pumps of vanilla syrup. Unlike the rest of the menu, this chai has a light base that lets the add-ins shine. This drink perfectly highlights the classic gingerbread taste in a cold tea that tastes like a comforting snow day.
With festive flavors and creative twists on classic staples, Starbucks’ Holiday Menu is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Each drink brings something unique to the table, but the Iced Gingerbread Chai stood out as the perfect balance of comfort and flavor. However, no matter which drink you try, a cheerful taste will greet you from your cup.
