A power ranking of every Starbucks holiday latte from chestnut praline to peppermint mocha

Starbucks fans rejoice! The coffeeshop had two pieces of news to share in November. First, holiday beverages are back. Also, red cups are returning to some locations this week, though the official release date hasn't yet been announced.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the red cup, which started in 1997 with hand drawn holly leaves speckled with coffee beans on a purple background. There was one more year of purple before red, green and white became the signature colors. This year, collectors can add four new cup designs to their stash.

The festive disposable cups are already being used to serve up the entire line of winter beverages, including Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Irish Cream Cold Brew and the new as of last year nondairy Iced Sugar Cookie Almond milk Latte.

Though there was no new flavor added to the lineup of sugary, caffeinated seasonal beverages this year, the current bevs seemed to be begging for a power ranking and we couldn't resist lending our taste buds.

Drink them alone or paired with one of the holiday sweets like the new Chocolate Pistachio Swirl or the returning Sugar Plum Cheese Danish, Cranberry Bliss Bar or Snowman Cookie.

Here's your power ranking of Starbucks 2022 holiday drinks.

Fair warning: Don't try this full tasting on your own. The sheer level of sugar and caffeine will have you shaking out of your skin.

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7. Irish Cream Cold Brew

The drink is cold brew coffee, Irish cream-flavored syrup and vanilla sweet cream foam with a dash of cocoa powder on top, which is reminiscent of a tiramisu. It smells faintly of Irish cream. Tame in its sweetness, it delivers on the promise of Irish cream flavor. What it doesn't deliver on is holiday cheer. Let's face it, winter demands coziness and heat, even in Arizona. After all, when we live in 117 degree summers, then 75 is a 40 degree drop, that's like 40 degrees in places that have 80 degree summers. Give me a hot latte or give me nothing!

6. Peppermint Mocha

Made with espresso, steamed milk and mint-flavored syrup, this drink is topped with whipped cream and chocolate curls. We found it sweet and overly minty. While it triggers some holiday nostalgia, the mint overpowers any and all other flavors. We love mint in our desserts, but the use of extracts requires restraint. That said, the drink has been around for 20 years and definitely delivers holiday vibes.

5. Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha

We have the same thoughts about the white chocolate version of the peppermint mocha, except that this drink has a mellower flavor than its straight Peppermint Mocha counterpart, which is surprising considering it takes three pumps of white chocolate sauce to make a tall mocha. If it's a taste of the holidays you're looking for, this is another option, but expect peppermint with a capital P.

4. Sugar Cookie Almond milk Latte

This one's made with espresso, steamed almond milk, sugar cookie syrup and red and green sprinkles. We didn't get the sprinkles, but that was not a deal breaker. Thin in texture, it emanated a nutty aroma, more hazelnut than almond. The name conjured a sugary drink in our minds, but that's not what the drink delivered. It's inoffensive, but not particularly cheery or exciting.

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3. Chestnut Praline Latte

Espresso, steamed milk, chestnut praline syrup, whipped cream and praline toppings give this drink a nutty, earthy aroma with a buttery taste with a hint of oatmeal. It's a cozy drink, though we didn't taste much chestnut. It may not scream holidays, but it's a fine winter sipper.

2. Caramel Brulée Latte

Espresso, steamed milk, caramel sauce, whipped cream and caramel bits on top are a pleasure for those of us with a strong sweet tooth. If that's your vibe, you'll have an eye-widening smile after the first sip. If you get the Caramel Latte year round, then this may feel slightly smokier. One of us felt that was enough to add the holiday feel to it.

1. Toasted White Chocolate Mocha

Our number one pick is made with espresso, steamed milk, toasted white chocolate mocha sauce, whipped cream and red holiday sprinkles. This won our hearts and taste buds with its creamy texture, nutty, smooth, marshmallow-y flavor and just the right sweetness. It was hygge in a cup.

Details: starbucks.com.

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Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Starbucks new drinks taste test: chestnut praline to peppermint mocha