The holidays don’t seem complete without the yearly release of the Starbucks holiday drinks. 

   Bursts of peppermint and swirls of caramel bring warmth to the chilly winter season. The awaited Starbucks holiday drinks are back as of Nov. 4. Starbucks didn’t disappoint its loyal customers, bringing back holiday classics such as the Peppermint Mocha Latte, Irish Cream Cold Brew, Caramel Brulee Latte, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, and the Chestnut Praline Latte. Drinks such as the Peppermint Mocha have made their appearance each holiday season for the past nineteen years, so fans were pleased that these drinks stayed on the menu for another winter. 

   This year, however, Starbucks introduced a new flavor to the holiday line: the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. Being a routine individual, I was hesitant to switch up my order, so I decided to taste a few sips of my sister’s sugar cookie latte. Compared to my experience with my favorite holiday drink, the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, I was not a huge fan of the new drink. I found it to be bitter, lacking the sweet flavor I was hoping to enjoy. As someone who typically loves Starbucks’ seasonal drinks, I was surprised that I didn’t enjoy it. Although I don’t recommend switching up a usual order to try this new Starbucks drink, I do applaud Starbucks for making this drink dairy-free in its original form. To my satisfaction, my opinion of the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha stayed consistent. Its hint of sweet, caramelized white chocolate flavor topped with whipped cream, sprinkles, and edible pearls satisfy sweet coffee cravings without a complete overload of sugary flavors. 

   People that don’t love coffee can still indulge in the holiday flavors. The drinks come iced, warm, frappuccino style, decaf, and in creme (non-coffee) options. For those who would prefer a snack, the holiday line has a food menu that will satisfy your winter cravings. This year’s selection includes the new Reindeer Cake Pop, along with the returning treats; these treats include the Cranberry Bliss Bar, Sugar Plum Cheese Danish, and the Snowman Cookie. The Reindeer Cake Pop is a sweeter option with vanilla cake covered in chocolate icing. On the other hand, the Sugar Plum Cheese Danish combines savory cheese flavors with sweet spiced sugar plum spread. 

   Starbucks has something for everyone this holiday season. Although Starbucks didn’t release many new holiday options, I think that we can all agree that we are in need of comfort and warmth this holiday season, and I think Starbucks certainly succeeded in providing this through their 2021 holiday line.