We check in on the progress of our 2022 predictions. How much have we advanced and what is still left to go? The fundamentals of the Metaverse are being bolstered through big businesses investments in departments dedicated to the understanding and development of Metaverse technology. McKinsey predicts $5 trillion in value by 2030.

This weeks cocktail is a mojito called, Minting the Metaverse. A light and fun summer spritzer.

::Minting the Metaverse::

- 2 oz white rum - 2 tbs freshly squeezed lime juice - 1/2 oz tablespoon simple syrup - 1/3 cup Vinho Verde (I don’t recommend champagne or sparkling wine) - Handful of mint leaves to muddle and to garnish - Lime wedges to muddle and garnish

Start by adding about 10-12 mint leaves to a cocktail shake. Using a muddler (or back of a wood spoon) mash the mint leaves into the mixer a few times to break them up. Then add one or two lime wedges and muddle the wedges to extract the juice and release the lime oils. Add the sugar syrup and the rum and stir and pour into a highball glass, don’t strain it. Fill the glass with ice and slowly add the Vinho Verde. Garnish with a lime wedge and some whole mint leaves.

::Music:: Take It by Electronic Senses https://soundcloud.com/electronicsenses

Welcome to 2022. With the new year brings a flurry of Metaverse news, some useful some not. Let's get started in 2022 and see how it will end up at the years end. Things are going to change a lot in the next year - including how we define the term metaverse. This episode is a reset to kick off the year - Metaverse to be redefined yet again.

This weeks cocktail is the Sazerac. A classic and trademarked cocktail recipe dating back 100 years. If you're into Old Fashioneds or Manhattans you'll love the Sazerac.

::Sazerac::

Recipe from the Sazerac company.

- 1.5 oz Sazerac Rye Whiskey - 1 sugar cube - 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters - .25 oz Herbsaint (or other absinthe substitute like Pernod) - Lemon twist

Pack an Old-Fashioned glass with ice. In a second Old-Fashioned glass, place a sugar cube and add three dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters to it. Crush the sugar cube. Add 1.5 oz Sazerac Rye Whiskey to the glass with the Peychaud’s Bitters and sugar. Add ice and stir. Empty the ice from the first glass and coat the glass with .25 oz Herbsaint and Discard. Strain the whiskey / bitters / sugar mixture from the glass into the Herbsaint coated glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

::Music:: Take It by Electronic Senses https://soundcloud.com/electronicsenses

On this last day of 2021, we look at some of the top ten trends and predictions for the Metaverse in 2022. While we won't have a true Metaverse in 2022, we will see a lot of new technology releases, entertainment roll outs, cheaper hardware options, and more. I'll be glad to see 2021 go and look forward to seeing what 2022 brings.

We start with the news from this week and end with our Meta Hour cocktail, the LV75 - a metaverse New Year Eve's take on the classic French 75 champagne cocktail, the LV75.

::LV75::

- 1 ounce gin - 1/2 ounce Chambord - 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice - 2 ounces Champagne - An almost frozen fresh raspberry for garnish

Start by mixing the gin, Chambord, and lemon juice together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake the mixture for a solid 20 seconds and then strain into a champaign flute.

Add the chilled raspberry to the glass. Then slowly pour the champagne into the glass, careful not to agitate the bubbles.

Serve immediately.

::Music:: Take It by Electronic Senses https://soundcloud.com/electronicsenses