The cream, best (5)
I believe the answer is:
elite
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">I believe this clue is a double definition.<br/ ><br/ >'<span class="explanation-format__original">the cream</span>' is the first definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >'<span class="explanation-format__original">best</span>' is the second definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(elite can mean the very best of a group)</span><br/ ><br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for elite that I've seen before include "Identified as the best" , "A privileged group in society" , "Group considered to have superior status" , "Letter size; superior group" , "Superior group in society" .)