SALISBURY — Salisbury-based Cheerwine says two legendary American tastes, Cheerwine and barbecue, have come together in the ultimate partnership.

Cheerwine has become the first “Official Soft Drink” of the National Barbecue Association (NBBQA). Both born out of tradition, Cheerwine and barbecue are the iconic, American equivalents of wine and cheese, the company said in a press release.

Stuart Meyer, chief executive of the National Barbecue Association, said, “With our shared North Carolina roots, NBBQA is proud to continue our strong friendship with Cheerwine as the Official Soft Drink of the National Barbecue Association in celebrating local barbecue legends all over the country.

“Both the history and flavor of Cheerwine and barbecue have gone hand-in-hand since 1917, and we look forward to helping barbecue lovers all over the country get a chance to taste the history for the first time.”

Now that the relationship is “official,” NBBQA and Cheerwine will join together for several promotional and awareness campaigns throughout the year, from events to online marketing, including a locator app that directs users to nearby Cheerwine and barbecue.

“Cheerwine is proud to be a partner with the NBBQA,” says Dan Martin, vice president of sales for Cheerwine. “We consider Cheerwine to be barbecue’s best friend and look forward to advancing our brand forward in this exciting and growing space.”

For more information, visit http://www.cheerwine.com/bbq.