The mysterious case of the egg nog latte...

Anyone who is friends with me on facebook will be wondering why I didn't blog about this ages ago, such has been my confusion and annoyance!

Even though I am usually a bit suspicious of big corporate type organisations and favour independents where I can, Starbucks has somehow caught me in it's evil web. I think this is partially because their chai tea latte is the best hot drink EVER but also, I like the comfy seats, the cosy atmosphere, the soft easy listening type music and the fact that they are a great place to just go sit and read, write, do work on your laptop etc and you don't get bothered and it all feels quite safe and nice. (Although I did once have a very strange man in a bobble hat staring right at me for about 20 minutes once which was a wee bit creepy).

Anyway, one of the other things they have me crazy about it the whole red cups thing. Genius. Only a truly evil marketeer could have come up with a whole global festive campaign which is mainly based around the fact that in November and December, the take out cups go from white to RED. Cool huh? I have no idea really why this engenders so much excitement in me, and others, it just does. In fact, me and a fellow Starbucks addict, Kala actually met up in the first couple of days of red cups to celebrate the fact and to try out the new seasonal special drink, Dark Cherry Mocha.

And this is where the story really begins.

Every year, Starbucks have two seasonal drinks, Gingerbread latte (not bad) and, star of the show, Egg Nog Latte which frankly is bliss in a cup and I'll fight anyone to the death who says it is not so. Anyway! this year... dun dun durrrrr...NO EGG NOG LATTE! It has been usurped by the aforementioned Cherry Mocha and, wait for it, some toffee nut nonsense - what the buggery hell does toffee nut have to do with Christmas? NOTHING. The dark cherry mocha I could go with and as an addition to the existing already perfect duo, I would have been happy. But no egg nog latte? Outrage. I joined a Facebook group (the modern day version of organising a rally) for folk like me who are admittedly sad, have too much time on their hands and also have a passion of the ENL. 

It seemed for a while that ENL was at an end. If you asked in store they said they weren't getting it this year (although one barrista told Kala that it was coming, but just not yet which just confused the hell out of me).

Calls were made to the Starbucks UK customer services team, even by myself to demand to know what was going on with the ENL. I realise as I write this I am sounding like a crazy woman but no matter. I know my faults. I was told that a small quantity would be released in early December, to selected stores, but it wouldn't be advertised and you had to ask for it - what the ??&*%!!

Sure enough, the day arrived and I walked into my usual branch and asked for an Egg Nog Latte - ever asked for something at a chain coffee store that isn't on the menu? it feels very weird. The girl behind the counter looked at me blankly and repeated my request back to me like I had spoken martian ... she then turned to a colleague who said quietly, "It's in the back of that top cupboard up there - make sure you put it at the back of the fridge when you're finished" - I mean, this is real cloak and dagger stuff for a milky, eggy, spicy drink!

No matter, I had my prize... and I settled down to enjoy it.

mmmmmmmmmm.

and look what I had in my bag to make the experience even nicerer?

Bliss.

But the whole ENL thing is just so curious. I can't decide whether;

a. it an evil viral marketing type thing to get people talking about Starbucks and the ENL and therefore driving sales (bit like when heinz said they were discontinuing Salad Cream).

b. they mistakenly thought it was time for a change, ditched it and have then had to quickly respond to customer outrage/ demand but don't have enough stock, hence the whole keeping it in the cupboard thing. (I happen to know they had it in the US all along, those sneaky Yanks :-) keep it for yourselves why dontcha!)

or

c. I just need to get a grip!

Have you had a red cup yet? I cannot try the toffee thing on principle and my desire to see it fail but the cherry mocha isn't bad at all. Hopefully next year ENL will be back where it belongs.

Comments

[Janice Robertson]

Maybe it's a bit of all three? Tee Hee!

Great post.

Love Janice xxx

[Linda Lilly Kiss Noises]

OK it is I not you that needs to get a life....I didn't even know there was such a thing and I am sure there must be a Starbucks somewhere here in Australia, i just don't remember seeing one around here....I am missing out!!! I need your ENL but most of all now I need a red cup!!
Kiss noises, off to look up Starbucks in the telephone directory, Linda Lilly Cottage

[Ruthanne (in Seattle)]

I followed over here from Jane Brocket's blog - am wondering if you could send me a link to the EFT information. I am having issues with my back and would be interested in trying something that has been successful. Thank you.

[vanessa]

HURRAH! I think this is one of the most fantastic things I've read in a while.................. I love your fighting spirit...................... And if I was a egg nog drinker, I would be eternally grateful to you............... actually I'm in awe that you put up a fight, you're an inspiration................ I mean, how many times have I meekly accepted an unwanted change..................... I imagine it helps your fighting spirit to have a net-work of like-minded people to spur you on................. WELL DONE I say! And have a wonderful eggy noggy Christmas.........................

[Account Deleted]

You do need to get out more sweetie, but we all have our cute little ways!
Happy Crristmas to you tucked away in your mistletoe strewn "Hideaway Cottage".......

[Paige]

I tried the toffee one (i think it was toffee nut hot chocolate..:/), and it was actually quite nice :')
The cookies are delicious!
there are still quite a few left because mother won't let me eat them -_-
I need to try them with some tea,
I reckon it would be proper nice.
10/10!
xo

[rosepetaljam]

thanks Paige :-) glad you liked the cookies - your mum is so mean!!