Crossword Genius

Before last part, raise drink (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cocktail

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'drink' is the definition.
(cocktail is a kind of drink)

'before last part raise' is the wordplay.
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'last part' becomes 'tail' (tail is a kind of part. I am not sure about the 'last' bit.**).
'raise' becomes 'cock' (eg a dog can cock his leg).
'tail' after 'cock' is 'COCKTAIL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cocktail that I've seen before include "Harvey Wallbanger, for example" , "old-fashioned in America" , "dish with prawn" , "Manhattan, for example" , "Possibly old-fashioned" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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