Ducks in absolute alcohol (4)
I believe the answer is:
teal
'ducks' is the definition.
(the singular can also be the plural)
'in absolute alcohol' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'TEAL' is hidden in the letters of 'absolute alcohol'.
(Other definitions for teal that I've seen before include "Dark greenish-blue colour" , "Small freshwater duck and colour" , "Bluish shade of green" , "Type of duck" , "Dark green-blue; duck" .)