American's mate runs out of brandy (3)
I believe the answer is:
mac
'american's mate' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'runs out of brandy' is the wordplay.
'runs' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'out of' is a deletion indicator ('out of' can mean no longer having).
'brandy' becomes 'marc' (marc is a kind of brandy).
'marc' with 'r' taken away is 'MAC'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mac that I've seen before include "laptop?" , "A Gaelic son, often in name" , "It may help you keep dry" , "PC" , "Raincoat (colloq.)" .)