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‘Tis the season of peppermint mochas and eggnog lattes! There’s no doubt that Starbucks is a popular place to go for these specialized, oftentimes over-the-top sugary drinks. And there’s nothing wrong with that every once in a while! Here is a definitive ranking of some of the best and worst holiday drinks Starbucks has come out with to date. Do you agree with this list?

Fruitcake Frappucino

Why Starbucks thought turning everyone least favorite holiday baked good into a Frappucino is beyond us, but here it is anyway. Or, well, there it was. This strange beverage with it’s… less than desirable mix of ingredients and flavors was on the menu for a whopping four days before the company took it down. What made up the fruitcake Frappucino, you ask? Hazelnut Frappucino with dried fruit, cinnamon, whipped cream, and a topping of caramel and matcha, of all things. So, yeah. We can see why this one was a flop.

Juniper Latte

Featured on the 2018 holiday drink menu, the juniper latte was hit or miss with the public. With notes of pine, sage, and of course, the juniper syrup, all topped with a citrus sugar topping, customers either loved or hated this drink. It definitely wasn’t the sugary-sweet beverages that you normally find on the holiday drink menu, but it had a unique taste nonetheless. Critics of the juniper latte said it had a subtle earthy flavor, which may or may not be your cup of tea… or, rather, your cup of coffee.

Toffee Almond Milk Hot Cocoa

Dairy Free customers rejoiced everywhere when Starbucks released the toffee almond milk hot chocolate. Normally unsweetened almond milk makes coffee even more bitter, but with the added notes of toffee and of course, delicious chocolate sauce, this drink has a surprising depth of flavor that isn’t overly sweet.

Chestnut Praline Latte

This popular holiday beverage may not be a featured drink on the 2019 holiday menu at Starbucks, but never fear! All you have to do is ask and Starbucks will make your dreams come true. The developer of this popular drink, Amy Dilger, had this to say about the chestnut praline latte. “The rick, earthy, sweet, roastiness of the chestnut is a perfect foil to espresso. Then we balanced the nutty chestnut flavor with brown sugar and spice.” With a description like that, it’s easy to see why this is a go-to for many people!

Snicker Doodle Hot Chocolate

In addition to the already rich hot chocolate base, this drink incorporates white chocolate sauce and cinnamon dolce syrup to evoke all the flavors we love about snickerdoodle cookies. If you’re in the mood for an ultra sweet treat, this is the drink for you.

Gingerbread Latte

Gingerbread is right up there with peppermint as one of the quintessential flavors of the holiday season, so it’s no surprise that the gingerbread latte is one of the most popular drinks this time of year. Espresso, steamed milk, gingerbread syrup, and nutmeg make up this delicious treat.

Peppermint Mocha

Is it really any surprise that the peppermint mocha holds the number one spot on this list? If pumpkin spice is the flavor of fall, then peppermint mocha is the flavor of winter. Some might say this drink is overly sweet, but honestly, what’s wrong with that? Maybe it’s not the drink to have every day of the week, but every once in a while we like to treat ourselves to a drinkable dessert.

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