![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
Each year, Starbucks Coffee Company creates a menu of holiday drinks. This year, they are featuring seasonal drinks such as the new Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher, and some returning drinks, like the Caramel Brulée Latte, and the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai. There are a total of eight holiday drinks on the menu this year, along with limited-edition cold foams and foods.
The returning drink, the Caramel Brûlée Latte, has been described as a mix of steamed milk with rich caramel brulee sauce and Starbucks’ Signature Espresso.
At first glance, it smelled strongly of plain coffee. Though, this cannot describe the full drink itself. The drink— at first— tastes of a creamy, sweet caramel mixed in with a slight taste of coffee. It doesn’t end with a full taste of cream or a full taste of coffee. It stays creamy and sweet the whole time. The coffee is noticeable, but not strong; the drink itself is more on the sweeter side of drinks. For those who do not prefer to have a sweet drink, go for a stronger coffee drink instead.
Another returning drink, the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai, is a drink that combines the spices from chai, oat milk, and gingerbread-flavored cold foam all into one drink.
The first impression of the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai was that it smelled strongly of cinnamon and spices. Contrasting to the smell, the first taste of the chai is of oat milk. The taste of the chai is very subtle, but still distinguishable. Throughout the entire time of drinking the drink, the flavor of oat milk was a constant, but as you drink it, the flavors of the spices begin to unfold and become more noticeable. For those who love a subtle drink and are willing to try something new, this is definitely an option to try.
Along with the returning drinks, there is the new Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher. The drink is new to the menu this year, being one of the first refreshers to be on the Starbucks Holiday Menu. The Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher is an iced refresher consisting of flavors such as orange, tart cranberry, and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, along with real cranberries on top.
At first glance, the drink smelled sweet which contrasts with the flavor of the first sip, which was sour, and it continued to stay sour as it was lemonade. Although it still was sour throughout the entire time drinking it, over time it got sweeter. The drink leads more to a sour and sweet taste, and if you enjoy a caffeinated drink but don’t enjoy the taste of coffee, this would definitely be something to try.
All things considered, the drinks are all great, and the choice of what to get really depends on the person ordering and their preferences. The real question is, are the drinks fit for a majority of people? Or do they take their business elsewhere this holiday season?
