So… it’s that time of year again when businesses start putting their “Christmas twist” on absolutely everything. Fenwick’s has its Christmas window, Gregg’s has its Christmas pasties, McDonalds has its Christmas take out cups, and the cafés have their Christmas coffees – how exciting!
In this week’s publication, I will share with you my top 5 Christmas drinks and how to enjoy them this winter:
5 MCDONALDS: SPICED COOKIE LATTE
At the bottom of my 2016 Christmas drinks list is McDonald’s Spiced Cookie Latte. Like last year’s Toffee Latte, I enjoyed it, but… you could tell it was from a fast food restaurant and cost me less than £2. The Cookie Latte is unique and I was desperate to try it because I had never seen it attempted before. Gingerbread, Apple Spice, Toffee… they’ve all been done before, but the cookie one is new. It was good, and I would probably have it again if I went in for fast food.
"Gingerbread, Apple Spice, Toffee… they’ve all been done before, but the cookie one is new. It was good, and I would probably have it again if I went in for fast food."
4 COSTA COFFEE: GINGERBREAD LATTE
Costa Coffee’s Gingerbread Latte was peak of my list last year, but has fallen a bit, purely because it’s been on their menu for a while now, and there are simply too many new Christmas drinks to cast aside. This is a great drink for winter. It’s warm, it’s traditional and it even comes with their signature gingerbread man sitting in the cream.
3 ROCHESTER GINGER DRINK
At number three is a drink for ‘adults’ with an acquired taste: Rochester’s Ginger Drink. It’s possibly one of the strongest ginger beers that have ever passed my lips, but it fits its description exactly: “how ginger wine should taste without the need for alcohol… Its smooth, clean and crisp, with a satisfying kick that lingers”. This Christmas drink gets you right at the back of the throat, but is a traditional one that I love to hate, reminding me of an authentic Christmas, as I tuck into it with my box of ginger thins.
"This Fudge Hot Chocolate is definitely not for those who can’t handle sickly cakes or drinks – it’s intense – and it’s not for those who are a bit tight for money either…"
2 STARBUCKS: FUDGE HOT CHOCOLATE
In second place is Starbucks’ Fudge Hot Chocolate which was a sickly sweet sin to tuck into last week as I went to do a few hours of study (especially considering I ordered the Grande). This Fudge Hot Chocolate is definitely not for those who can’t handle sickly cakes or drinks – it’s intense – and it’s not for those who are a bit tight for money either… but for me, it’s my go to study drink this winter, going perfectly well with their cinnamon buns or a bag of fudge. Just to make it even better, it sparkles! What’s not to like?
1 COSTA COFFEE: ORANGE HOT CHOCOLATE
My 2016 Christmas drink winner is Costa Coffee’s new Orange Hot Chocolate which they have claimed has “turned everyone’s favourite Christmas stocking filler into a delicious drink.” Personally, I didn’t think they’d come up with anything that could beat last year’s mulled wine, with the wee slice of orange and cinnamon floating on top, but apparently I was wrong. The Orange Hot Chocolate is definitely top of my Christmas drinks list – smooth hot chocolate with a shot of orange and finished off with a ‘cascade of gold stars’ just for the extra seasonal effect!
