Play ends early: here's whisky (4)
I believe the answer is:
dram
'whisky' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'play ends early' is the wordplay.
'play' becomes 'drama' (synonyms).
'ends early' means to remove the last letter (I've seen 'ending early' mean this).
'drama' with its final letter taken off is 'DRAM'.
'here's' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dram that I've seen before include "Small drink of spirits" , "Short" , "Small drink (in Scotland)" , "A wee spirit" , "shot" .)