Crossword Genius

Illicit spirit bottle regularly hidden by writer (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

poteen

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'illicit spirit' is the definition.
'poteen' can be an answer for 'spirit' (I've seen this before). I am not certain of the 'illicit' bit.

'bottle regularly hidden by writer' is the wordplay.
'regularly' indicates alternate letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'hidden by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (I've seen this before).
The alternating letters of 'bottle' are 'ote'.
'ote' put inside 'pen' is 'POTEEN'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for poteen that I've seen before include "Illegal drink" , "Illegal spirit distilled from potatoes and other stuff" , "Illegal Irish spirit made in still" , "illicit booze" , "Illegal alcohol made from potatoes and other mash" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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