Crossword Genius

Disparage director on board, an Irish manufacturer? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

distiller

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'manufacturer?' is the definition.
(I know that distiller is a type of distiller)

'disparage director on' is the wordplay.
'disparage' becomes 'stille' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'director' becomes 'dir'.
'on' means one lot of letters goes inside another (as in clothing 'on' a person).
'stille' put into 'dir' is 'DISTILLER'.

'board an irish' is the link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for distiller that I've seen before include "One producing alcohol" , "spirited person?" , "Eg, whisky producer" , "One providing strong drink" , "a person of strong spirit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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