Holiday Drink Menu 2025
The holiday season has settled in, bringing with it all the warmth, joy, and familiar comforts we’ve been waiting for. This year, we’re inviting you into a Cabin Christmas at Tala—a cozy retreat brimming with pine and plaid that brings that tucked-away feeling of winter in the woods. Our cafes are dressed for the season, and of course, the holiday drinks have arrived. The favorites you love are back (we know!), along with a few new creations—one special drink for each cafe.
Cafe Exclusives
Blossom & Spice
This drink was inspired by something one of the Highwood baristas, Maya, tasted while traveling. In an effort to call back to those longed-for flavors, she tinkered alongside Stefan in the production kitchen until a holiday version of her original treat came to life.
“Warm up this holiday season with our Blossom and Spice Latte, where the zesty essence of orange blossom pairs with the cozy warmth of cardamom and clove, all wrapped in a creamy embrace of vanilla syrup.”
-Maya, barista at Highwood
The Fruitcake Latte
The team at Libertyville was inspired by the classic holiday dessert to bring you a fruit-forward festive latte this season.
“This holiday season, the folks at Libertyville were very much on the same page. We were all thinking of almond, orange, cranberry, and spices. Visions of marzipan and mulled wine danced in our heads before we realized the ultimate combination of those flavors exists in a notorious Christmas classic: a fruitcake. Behold The Fruitcake Latte, an incredibly delicious nod to the dessert most often ignored on your cookie table.”
-Mel, manager at Libertyville
Navidad Naranjo
Winnetka’s holiday drink is reminiscent of chocolate oranges, but with a spicy kick. If you like the Engine 37 from Highwood, you are not going to want to miss out on this delicious concoction.
“The Winnetka Cafe had a brainstorm blizzard coming up with our cafe-exclusive holiday drink. Throughout the process, staff members kept coming back to seasonal sweet treats ranging from tiramisu to sugar cookies. However, the crowd favorite encompassed the sweet and spicy flavors of the holiday season with the orange mocha—vibrant and citrusy with a tickle of heat, this dark chocolate treat is sure to be a new favorite.”
-Mia, barista at Winnetka
Returning Favorites
Gingerbread Latte
Skip the attempts to build a festive gingerbread house that will never look as good as it does on Pinterest. Instead, lets us craft you one of these holiday favorites that tastes even better than it looks on Instagram. Made with espresso, ginger, holiday spices, brown sugar, and steamed milk. “Gingerbread latte? Oh, snap!”… get it?
Sleigh Ride
When we originally created the Sleigh Ride, we knew only two things: we wanted to name a drink Sleigh Ride and we needed it to have egg nog—I mean honestly what says the holiday season more than egg nog? We finally came around to try egg nog with chai (after many trails of egg nog + miscellaneous ingredients). The combination of chai and egg nog makes an ultra creamy, festive treat unlike any other.
The candy cane lane
This holiday delight comes together with in-house made peppermint syrup, mocha, espresso, steamed milk, and garnished with candy cane bits. The perfect drink that even makes waiting in line for Santa enjoyable.
Lump of coal latte
Whether you’re on the naughty list or the nice, you need to give this drink a try. Activated charcoal makes a gray canvas, but don’t let that fool you, because this latte is packed with flavor. Cardamom-infused maple, espresso, steamed milk and cracked black pepper come together for the perfect specialty latte.