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Like so many people, Dan was scarred by tequila at a young age, and hasn't been able to drink it for years. In this episode of The Sporkful, he sets out to overcome his aversion and learn to appreciate good tequila with help from Ilana Edelstein, author of The Patron Way: The Untold Inside Story of the World's Most Successful Tequila.

Dan rates each tequila they taste by how strongly it evokes the hot car trunk in which that fateful bottle was stored so many years ago, and Ilana shares recipes for a couple of her favorite tequila cocktails.

Links, Recipes and Such

Ilana's book: The Patron Way

Ilana's Ilanarita Margarita: Mix a shot of Patron Silver, a shot of orange liqueur, and fill the rest of a tall glass with ice and Squirt (grapefruit soda).

Ilana's Naughty Adult Freeze: Blend a small handful of coffee beans and mix in a blender with coffee ice cream and Patron XO Cafe (coffee liqueur with tequila). Adjust proportions to your liking. Serve in champagne glasses topped with ground nutmeg.

Mario Batali's Rhubarb Margarita (NY Times, 5/5/13): Chop 6 ribs of rhubarb and place in a saucepan with 3 cups each sugar and water. Simmer for 20 minutes. Once cool, blend until smooth. In a pitcher filled with ice, pour 1 cup each of tequila blanca, fresh lime juice and rhubarb purée, then add 2 oz. Grand Marnier. (Notes from Dan: This makes a lot. For smaller groups reduce all amounts in equal proportion. Also, I recommend 8 ribs of rhubarb, this was pretty sweet. And try half lime juice, half lemon juice.)