stage dives & fist fights

1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila (Espolon)
3/4 oz Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Lustau)
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (Alessio)
2 dash Cardamom Bitters (1 pod's worth of seeds, muddled in the tequila)

Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with an orange peel crown.
Two Wednesdays ago, I returned to Lou Bustamante's The Complete Cocktail Manual and spotted the Stage Dives & Fist Fights. The recipe was created by Stephen Mendez of the Last Word in San Antonio, Texas, and appeared like a tequila Manhattan with a sweet, raisiny sherry in place of half of the vermouth. Once built, it gave forth an orange oil and cardamom nose. Next, a rich grape sip gave way to tequila, raisins, and cardamom spice.