Liqueur given a sign of approval (6)
I believe the answer is:
pernod
'liqueur' is the definition.
(I know that Pernod is a type of liqueur)
'given a sign of approval' is the wordplay.
'given' says to put letters next to each other.
'a' becomes 'per' (eg 'one a day' means 'one per day').
'sign of approval' becomes 'nod' (nodding one's head indicates agreement).
'per' next to 'nod' is 'PERNOD'.
(Other definitions for pernod that I've seen before include "Aniseed-flavoured liquor" , "French aperitif" , "Aperitif flavoured with aniseed" , "Drink flavoured with aniseed" , "Aniseed-flavoured aperitif" .)