Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info "This looks like a crime scene," I said to my pal as I held a Vanilla Lavender Ice Whipped Latte up to snap a photo, grimacing. A greyish gloopy fluid formed the bottom layer in the clear cup, topped with thin milky liquid and finished off with unctuous, foamy beige. In reality it was a vanilla lavender syrup, complemented with milk and an ice whipped coffee topping, but I couldn't help but think terrible thoughts as it all sloshed around with chunks of ice disturbing it all. Read more: Ozzy Osbourne's touching gesture to lifelong fan that 'lost' Birmingham charity auction Read more: Drivers must check new DVLA rule which comes with risk of £150 charge They don't come up very often, but it was one of those times where I really thought we should scrap all our food laws and do what Americans do: whack food dye in everything. I'm already at risk of hyperactivity anyway, so they might as well make the lavender syrup purple, instead of a hue comparible to a cold nan's ankles? The drink isn't on the menu yet, launching officially on Thursday, May 8, but app users get exclusive access for two weeks, so I took advantage and ordered. I gave it a good mix, unwilling to cop a gobful of syrup given there was a high chance it would taste of pot pourri. Reader, it didn't. It was a million times better, not that I've ever made a habit of licking pot pourri. The lavender flavour is subtle, tasting more on the side of a particularly fresh midsummer blueberry than a Parma Violet-style perfume. The coffee holds its bitter notes and the vanilla gives it all an indulgent, decadent element. I've been critical of Costa in the past for the violently saccharine drinks (remember the hot milkshakes or the Kit Kat coffee?) but this drink isn't as heavy on the syrup, which I really enjoyed; it reminded me, a little bit, of that blueberry matcha drink I love from Blank Street Coffee. It might be the ugliest drink Costa has had on its menu in a while, but the Vanilla Lavender Ice Whipped Latte is the best one too. All it needs is a colourful sleeve to cover up the fact that it looks like a crime scene and Costa is on to a winner!