Almost 41 years ago, in 1984, on the day after Thanksgiving, Starbucks released its first-ever seasonal coffee mix, the Starbucks Christmas Blend. Neither the company nor the world had any idea of the impact of this decision.
Up until this point, Starbucks had only sold freshly-roasted coffee beans that you would buy and then brew for coffee at home–nothing like the place we know today. And yet, this seemingly small decision to start selling their own coffee blends completely changed the brand’s trajectory.
Suddenly, the single Starbucks store struggled to keep up with the intense fervor of people standing in lines down the block, eager to snag a bag for themselves, their best friends, and even their grandparents. It was such a fresh idea for the time, so everyone wanted to get in on this and try some of their coffee.
They would stick with their new seasonal blends for the next three years, until 1987, when they added yet another dimension to their brand: they became a coffeehouse.
Now, customers could buy a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee and enjoy it in the cafe itself. This was their biggest turning point because it allowed them to garner great popularity and worldwide growth. By becoming a coffeehouse, the company really took off, with new locations appearing in Chicago and Vancouver.
After that, the sky was the limit with the brand’s holiday endeavors, with the debut of Starbucks’ holiday cup designs in 1997. Today, this is typically known as the red cup design, something that didn’t appear until 1999, but is now a holiday staple, with the design being red most years since then.
In 2002, the Peppermint Mocha made its first appearance on the menu and remains there to this day, as it is the most loved Starbucks holiday beverage worldwide.
There’s no real timeline after that, as the menu just continued to evolve and grow into the wonderfully festive drinks and sweets we know today.
For 2025, specifically, the menu consists of the Peppermint Mocha, the Chestnut Praline Latte, the Caramel Brulee Latte, the Iced Gingerbread Chai, and the Sugar Cookie Latte; all drinks reviewed in this article are priced at $6.45.
While there are variations of some of these drinks, such as the Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha or the Sugar Cookie Breve, I have opted to include only the more popular, “core” set of drinks- for the sake of time, as well as my wallet.
Peppermint Mocha: This drink is a fan favorite for a good reason. With a wonderful, rich chocolate flavor followed by a fresh, minty second half, this drink hits all the notes you want in a classic winter drink. Because I get all my drinks iced out of personal preference, I cannot speak to the level of comfort you might get from drinking it warm, but I am sure it’s there as the flavor leaves nothing to be desired. With the mint leaving a pleasant aftertaste lingering on your tongue, this drink will undoubtedly have you coming back for more. This is the perfect drink for anyone looking for a classic winter coffee, especially those who love a good chocolate coffee.
Chestnut Praline Latte: After I took my first sip of this one, I was completely surprised. You absolutely get a strong chestnut flavor that really hits as soon as you drink it, before eventually melting into pleasant cookie-like sweetness on your tongue. This drink was nice because it was one of the less sweet options on the menu, but I would not call it one of my favorites just because I don’t typically enjoy things with a nutty overtone.
Caramel Brulee Latte: I tried this drink on a whim, after trying a sip of a friend’s and enjoying the flavor. It is now one of my favorite winter drinks. When you first take a drink, you’re hit with a pleasantly sweet caramel flavor, with a slightly earthy coffee taste on the backend; it doesn’t make for the most stellar aftertaste, but I don’t mind it terribly. The toppings on this especially succeed in adding something extra, with an aesthetic swirl of whipped cream and pieces of caramelized sugar. If you mix them into the latte, it is near perfection. I would highly recommend getting this drink with oatmilk, as well, because it really adds another flavor dimension since oatmilk tends to carry a more spiced vanilla taste that does an excellent job bringing out the peaceful kind of sweetness this drink carries.
Iced Gingerbread Chai: I would character this drink as a cozy one, for sure. The comforting flavor of the chai, when mixed with the gingerbread cold foam, makes for a festive flavor with a wonderful spiced finish. Chai is definitely the predominant flavor, probably because the gingerbread taste just comes because of the cold foam, so it may not be as much of a bold gingerbread as some people would like. That said, I did enjoy the cold foam’s texture because it just enhanced the overall creaminess and general comforting vibe of the drink.
Favorite Starbucks Winter Drink? Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.
Sugar Cookie Latte: This is definitely the drink I’ve gotten the most this year, but I remember trying it for the first time and being surprised at its bitterness- something I would not have expected from a drink with this name. I enjoyed the stronger coffee flavor, as that’s what I am more inclined to, so it was nice to find a drink that wasn’t overly sweet. I appreciated the notes of vanilla and this sort of buttery flavor that came in the middle of a sip. Again, I would recommend getting this with oatmilk, just to give it a little something extra. It’s an enjoyable drink that fits the holiday spirit nicely- it’s topped with red and green sprinkles- but doesn’t especially stand out to me in terms of flavor. It’s definitely a “safe drink” for anyone not looking for something especially flavorful or bold.
Starbucks typically ceases with their holiday menu around the second week of January, but it really depends on the location, as well as their stock of the holiday syrups and flavorings. Either way, make sure to try them soon if something sounds good to you!
