Crossword Genius

Briefly drink black stuff, a delicious beverage (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nectar

'a delicious beverage' is the definition.

'briefly drink black stuff' is the wordplay.
'briefly' means to remove the last letter.
'drink' becomes 'neck' (to neck a drink is to drink it quickly).
'black stuff' becomes 'tar' (tar is a black substance).
'neck' with its last letter taken off is 'nec'.
'nec'+'tar'='NECTAR'

(Other definitions for nectar that I've seen before include "Sugary stuff in plants to attract insects" , "Heavenly brew" , "Recant (anag.)" , "Sugary secretion" , "Ambrosia" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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