Much earlier rum and ale order (1,4,4)
I believe the answer is:
a good deal
'much' is the definition.
(both can mean a large amount)
'earlier rum and ale order' is the wordplay.
'earlier' becomes 'ago' (I've seen this in another clue).
'rum' becomes 'odd' (I've seen this before).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'order' is an anagram indicator.
'ale' anagrammed gives 'eal'.
'ago'+'odd'+'eal'='A GOOD DEAL'
(Other definitions for a good deal that I've seen before include "what a poker player hopes for?" , "could make much" .)