Aksakovskaya is a soft vodka built on Alpha-class spirit. The blend includes an aromatic caramel-malt spirit, which makes the palate more balanced and easier to drink. On the nose the alcohol is barely sharp: what comes through is clean bread and grain. The first sip passes without any real burn, and the finish is soft and warming. Serve chilled at 6–8 °C — freezing it solid is a mistake, since the nuances and the softness of the spirit disappear. Use small 30–50 ml shot glasses. The vodka goes with hearty Russian and European dishes: herring with boiled potatoes and onion, lightly salted salmon, cold cuts and salo with mustard, rich solyanka and fish soup, pelmeni with sour cream, game and meat from the coals, caviar and marinated mushrooms.