Fixin’ to host a good, old-fashioned shindig? Bust out the rustic, deep and crusty flavors of aged gouda and Alpine cheeses. If you don’t have any sweet tea on hand, sip on bigger-bodied whites, medium reds, malty beers or whiskey straight up. As for the vittles, rustle up some milk chocolate, roasted nuts and dried fruit for sturdy, simple flavors that will stand by your jams. 

Whiskey River: Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey gets its rich, toasted oak and vanilla notes from aging in charred oak barrels, a trick that made Rev. Craig a pioneer in the industry. For a terrific twosome, pair with the salty caramel flavors of Caves of Faribault Jeffs’ Select Gouda.

Jeffs’ Restaurant: Handcrafted in Wisconsin and cave-finished in the big rock candy mountain of Minnesota, Caves of Faribault Jeffs’ Select Gouda is one of the few US-made goudas. Let Scotto Cellars Rich & Creamy Chardonnay strum along with its matching flavors of toasted butterscotch.

If I Had a Hornbacher: Full-bodied with notes of orange blossom and honey followed by pears and apricot on the palate, Cline Viognier makes the most of what can be a fickle varietal. Enjoy with the browned butter and nutty profile of the unique Swiss cheese, Gourmino Hornbacher. 

The Lager Is Wide: An homage to an age-old German style, Sudwerk Brewing Märzen Amber Lager is sweet, smooth and robust. Take your taste buds on the road again with Gourmino Hornbacher, an exclusive specialty cheese handcrafted by a master cheesemaker in Switzerland. 

Blowin’ in the Wine: Celebrate local, downhome roots with Cline Pinot Noir, produced sustainably in Sonoma, and Point Reyes Toma, a farmstead cheese from the California coast. The sweet and savory notes in the wine and buttery cream and herbal twang of the cheese go together like Johnny and June.