Penne alla Mezcal

Penne alla vodka has made a recent comeback, but we say save the vodka for martinis. By spiking the sauce with mezcal, we’ve updated the ’80s favorite and given it more dimension and complexity. The smoky-sweet notes of the Mexican spirit are a perfect match for this pancetta-enriched tomato-cream sauce. That said, mezcal differs dramatically from producer to producer—even bottles from the same brand can vary in intensity of smokiness—so you may wish to take a whiff or sip of yours before adding it to the sauce. We think 2 tablespoons is a good base amount, but you can add less or more to suit your taste. Passata is a smooth tomato purée sold in glass jars or cartons. It gives the sauce a fresher, lighter flavor while a little tomato paste brings low notes and intensity.