Starbucks launches vacation chilly brew drink because the iced beverage’s reputation soars

Starbucks is launching its newest vacation drink on Friday: the Irish Cream Chilly Brew.

The chilly brew, blended with Irish cream syrup, comes topped with vanilla candy cream chilly foam and cocoa powder.

Two years in the past, Starbucks’ midseason addition to its vacation lineup was the Christmas Tree Frappuccino. However since then the espresso chain has turned its focus from the heavy blended drink to lighter iced drinks that entice prospects to return to cafes.

Regardless of dropping temperatures, chilly drinks proceed to be well-liked with Starbucks’ prospects. They make up greater than half of Starbucks’ U.S. gross sales. The corporate has rolled out Nitro chilly brew to all of its U.S. places and launched new flavors of well-liked iced drinks equivalent to Refreshers.

However Starbucks can be betting on flavored chilly brew because the caffeinated beverage features steam with espresso drinkers.

In August, the espresso chain launched the Pumpkin Cream Chilly Brew, its first new pumpkin espresso drink for the reason that introduction of the pumpkin spiced latte in 2003. The recognition of its chilly drinks, together with the Pumpkin Cream Chilly Brew, added 5 share factors to the 6% jump in U.S. same-store sales it logged throughout the fourth quarter.

Final yr, it added the Chilly Foam Cascara Chilly Brew and the Salted Cream Chilly Brew. It additionally debuted a…