Watertrade

not your average whisky bar :: not your average manhattan⁠
⁠
the day is night :: mars iwai tradition, shimauta awamori, punt e mes, shiitake mushroom + epazote. ⁠
⁠
photo :: starchefs

and, for our next trick ::
you tell our team your flavor profiles, they make the magic happen. nightly.🪄

austin summer calls for inside activities ::
the bar's back open tonight with a/c blasting, vinyl spinning, open reservations and room for walk-ins, too. let us help you make some good ice-cold decisions. 🥃

photo :: chad wadsworth

aka hanna :: n/a + easy breezy⁠
slow luck + pink peppercorn syrup + grapefruit juice + sanbitter italian soda. campari-adjace + refreshing always.⁠
⁠
photo :: andrew reiner

small :: but mighty⁠
tucked upstairs at south congress hotel + through the OTOKO door, we fit omakase cocktails, vinyl spinning, and the largest selection of japanese spirits in texas in our space, with plenty of room + cozy seating for you, too. make a reservation or walk right in, tuesday-saturday 5-11p.
⁠
photo :: brynn osborn

national martini day :: any excuse for another kanpachi dirty 🍸⁠
a bar team favorite is built with iichiko saiten barley shochu + a split base of dolin dry vermouth and dolin blanc vermouth + olive juice + a peppercorn tincture with black, pink, and sansho. we then add a brine made from our house-cured kanpachi 🐟 :: aka the first course of the classic omakase next door at OTOKO. ⁠
final garnish :: house brined white pearl onion + calamansi leaf.

"widely revered among the Austin cocktail cognoscenti, Watertrade is a watering hole of global significance. the intimate, japanese-inspired tachinomi is adjacent to Otoko — one of the city’s premiere omakase destinations with the same ownership. like its neighbor, it offers up a transcendent tasting menu. only here, of course, it’s all presented in liquid form."

we are honored to be featured as one of Food & Wine's global tastemakers. kanpai!

Experience a Japanese Standing Bar Complete With a Cocktail Omakase — in Texas This intimate, Japanese-inspired tachinomi (standing bar) is a can't miss U.S. cocktail bar on the 2024 Global Tastemakers list. WaterTrade curates a constantly changing four-course cocktail omakase in Austin, Texas, with specialty Japanese spirits including whisky and sake.

phone drinks first ::⁠
iykyk. the double rainbow surprise comes in :: that :: glass.

the (luxardo) cherry on top of any night in austin ::⁠
our reservations are now open through 4.30 :: come through for sxsw, special occasions, or simply, saturday. ⁠
book now via tock :: https://www.exploretock.com/otoko/

hai-fi + highballs meets rum :: 🥃⁠
our new vinyl night continues tomorrow, 2.13, with special + cocktails + live spins by . reservations available via link in bio + walk-ins welcome :: ⁠
swipe for the menu + featured drinks + swing by from 6-9p.

dram sessions returns :: nikka⁠
join us this sunday, 1.28 for a spirited gathering in our ongoing tasting + education series, led by our gm billy weston where we delve into the intricacies of japanese + world spirits. this month features Nikka Whisky USA :: one of the original triumvirate involved in bringing the scottish style of distillation to japan’s shores. ⁠
limited tickets include 4 drams + two complimenting dishes from the Otoko kitchen. buy via tock :: https://bit.ly/WTdramsessions

making spirits brighter in 2024 :: tickets for our 12.31 new year’s eve omakase are sold out but we still have tickets available for ’s nye cocktail omakase, featuring 4-courses of SUNTORY-centric cocktails alongside 1 spiritfree cocktail from the WATERTRADE bar team paired with light bites from chef + the OTOKO culinary team, a champagne toast, complimentary parking in our garage, optional rideshare service at the end of the evening, and the best seats in the house to see our cocktail creation process. book your nye experience with us via link in bio now. ⁠
⁠
photo ::

toast to 2024 :: we are bringing back our cocktail omakase experience this new year's eve.⁠ enjoy 4 courses of suntory-centric cocktails + 1 spiritfree cocktail from the our bar team, paired with light bites from chef yoshi okai + the Otoko culinary team.⁠
⁠
full details + tickets via tock :: https://bit.ly/nye-watertrade-cocktail-omakase

hai-fi + highballs is back :: a new twist on tuesdays 🍋
join us tonight in the bar for special cocktails with + spins by from 7-9 :: reservations available + walk-ins welcome

hai-fi + highballs :: a new twist on tuesdays 🍋
join us tonight in the bar for special cocktails with + spins by from 7-9 :: reservations available + walk-ins welcome

pov :: your favorite bar stool is open⁠
:: Otoko is closed tonight (go team at Hot Luck!) but we're open over at the bar for reservations and walk-ins :: signature bites and pours, 5-11 pm :: ⁠
⁠
photo :: Chad Wadsworth

after party pours :: this thursday our team will be celebrating our 2 nominations for best bar + bartender of the year (👑 ) at 's tastemaker awards and we are staying open late to keep the party going. our friends at are popping up 11pm-2am with a fun menu :: walk-ins only :: see you there.

we’re celebrating earth day with Mijenta Tequila :: a spirit with sustainability at the heart of their sourcing, packaging, and carbon neutrality.
our team created four new cocktails in partnership with mijenta and $1 from each sold will be donated to Women's Earth Alliance ::

amagami :: mijenta blanco, orange demerara, yuzu, lime, bushido sake,
egg white, chuncho bitters

sky serpent :: mijenta reposado, nixta corn licor, fernet vallet,
pineapple juice, coconut, lime juice, orange juice, agave

◯ △ ▢ :: mijenta blanco, coconut pandan juice, passion fruit syrup,
lime, pineapple amaro

plaza vieja :: mijenta reposado, carpano antica, massanez peche,
chamomile infused revenge of the third son sake, angostura bitters

:: come by the bar tonight to celebrate with us and try them first or make a reservation :: we’ll have them available all week long, too ::

join us tomorrow, 4.4, for our monthly tasting + education series, dram sessions. our gm billy weston will be delving into hombo mars, one of japan’s largest craft distilleries.⁠
⁠
$135pp :: 5:30-7:30pm. tickets are limited :: reserve yours via tock: https://www.exploretock.com/otoko/event/399692?date=2023-04-04&size=1&time=20%3A00&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=WT-Signature-DramSessions-2023

gin is in :: our 5th dram sessions tasting experience is coming to the bar on 12.06.⁠
⁠
explore the craftsmanship + unique botanicals that differentiate japanese gins from others through a tasting of 4 gin cocktails, served alongside a la carte food options.⁠
⁠
tap the link in bio for full details.

finishing touches.⁠
⁠
bright + fizzy with a zesty finish, the banane on the toji bell⁠ falls within the winter sekki segment of our latest cocktail menu.⁠
⁠
this cocktail is a nod to the sunshine that comes after the winter solstice, as a reminder that spring + brighter times are not far away.

eat, drink + do good.⁠
⁠
savor a select menu of signature drinks + snacks at the bar for , 9/1-9/11. a portion of proceeds will be donated to , which can turn each dollar spent into four meals for neighbors in need.

summer send off: stop by the bar before the team's routine holiday, 8.8-8.21. ⁠
⁠
photo ::

new bites at the bar :: hosomaki rolls from the OTOKO team

dram sessions :: a series for delving into the intricacies of japanese spirits⁠
⁠
join us for our first monthly tasting experience on sunday, 8.7, as we explore the newly released + highly sought after yamazaki releases from suntory. leave with an education about highly exclusive, four barrel releases, after suntory ambassador, rashidi barrett, leads us through the distinction of each distinct whisky. ⁠
⁠
350pp, 5-8pm. limited seats available.⁠

obscure, specialty vintages or well-known classics :: a variety of jwhiskies + japanese spirits line our shelves.

a round for the table :: oysters with yuzu ponzu, smoked steelhead roe + ezobafun uni⁠
⁠
photo ::

6.17 + 6.18 :: bringing omakase to the bar⁠
⁠
while chef yoshi's away for aspen food + wine, OTOKO x WATERTRADE will team up to offer a special 6-course tasting menu, served in the bar, alongside the regular a la carte food + beverage menu. ⁠
⁠
$75pp. tap the link in bio for full details + tickets. ⁠
⁠
photo ::

walk in with an open mind. ⁠
⁠
join us for a mid-week drink tonight—reserve a table or grab an open seat at the bar. ⁠
⁠
photo ::

in bloom :: celebrating the season's offerings.
⁠