Crossword Genius

Maiden with a sexy persona picked up song -- it's the drink (3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tia maria

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

'the drink' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'maiden with a sexy persona picked up song' is the wordplay.
'maiden' becomes 'm' (cricket abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a sexy persona' becomes 'ait' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'picked up' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'song' becomes 'aria' (aria is a kind of song).
'ait' in reverse letter order is 'tia'.
'm' put after 'tia' is 'tiam'.
'tiam'+'aria'='TIA MARIA'

'it's' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tia maria that I've seen before include "drink is served?" , "Rum-based coffee liqueur" , "Coffee-flavoured rum drink" , "Coffee flavoured liqueur" , "Coffee-flavoured Caribbean liqueur" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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