Joker, perhaps, holds old whiskey and chicken (6)
I believe the answer is:
coward
'chicken' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'joker perhaps holds old whiskey' is the wordplay.
'joker perhaps' becomes 'card' (a joker is a type of playing card).
'holds' indicates putting letters inside.
'old' becomes 'o' (abbreviation).
'whiskey' becomes 'W' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'o'+'w'='ow'
'card' placed around 'ow' is 'COWARD'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for coward that I've seen before include "Noel ......, composer of ''Bitter Sweet''" , "Theatrical fellow" , "Yellow-belly" , "One chicken-hearted" , "Scaredy-cat" .)