Embarrassing prize includes whiskey cocktail (7)
I believe the answer is:
awkward
'embarrassing' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'prize includes whiskey cocktail' is the wordplay.
'prize' becomes 'award' (synonyms).
'includes' indicates putting letters inside.
'whiskey' becomes 'W' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'cocktail' becomes 'K' (the end letter or tail of the word 'cocktail').
'w'+'k'='wk'
'award' placed around 'wk' is 'AWKWARD'.
(Other definitions for awkward that I've seen before include "Unwieldy" , "Hard to do; ungraceful" , "uncomfortable" , "Uncooperative" , "Blundering" .)