Cold weather and warm drinks go hand in hand during the holiday season, and Starbucks is the place to go to fulfill all your festive drink cravings. Starting Nov. 2, Starbucks began their holiday season releasing their holiday-themed cups and limited-edition drinks. 

Nicole Wakeland / Daily Nexus

This year, the festive drinks came in threes. Even though the holiday menu contains a few more items, I tried the three holiday drinks featured on Starbucks’ official Instagram page including the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, the Caramel Brûleé Latte, and the Peppermint Mocha. Here’s an honest opinion on these drinks so you can try the one that sounds best to you. 

First, I tried the Caramel Brûleé Latte. This drink was warm and the sweetest of the three, but I still really enjoyed it. I liked the taste of the rich caramel flavor and the sprinkles on top, which give it some extra flavor. It contains Starbucks’ signature espresso, steamed milk and a caramel brûlée sauce. A grande size is 410 calories, but in my opinion, it’s totally worth it. 

Up next was the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha. It’s a new spin on the original White Chocolate Mocha and adds caramelized flavors which give it that “toasted” flavor. This was my favorite drink of the three and it tasted similar to the Caramel Brûleé Latte but was not as sweet. It comes topped with whipped cream and red candied cranberry sugar, giving it the perfect holiday touch. Containing more calories than the first drink, it has a total of 420 calories. 

Lastly, I tried the Peppermint Mocha. This drink is a Starbucks holiday staple as it has been around for 18 seasons and has been imitated by other big coffee companies. It’s made with espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup, topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. If you love peppermint, this drink is for you. However, I thought the minty flavor was overbearing. I couldn’t really taste any sign of coffee due to the strong mocha flavor, so it felt like I was drinking hot chocolate to me. This one was my least favorite, but since it’s been around for so long, I believe it’s a fan-favorite. Containing the highest number of calories, the Peppermint Mocha is 440 calories in a grande size. 

Overall, the holiday drinks I would order again are the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha and the Caramel Brûleé Latte. I think Starbucks comes up with interesting drinks containing the best holiday flavors such as nutmeg, peppermint and caramel. It’s no wonder why these festive beverages make a famous menu — they’re perfect for sipping on while holiday shopping or just indulging in a delicious treat. 

Keep in mind that Starbucks’ holiday menu will end in mid to late January, so make sure to get your taste test in before the season ends. I know I will be going back for my favorites many times this holiday season.