Retort from male writer after a drink (7)
I believe the answer is:
alembic
'retort' is the definition.
(alembic is a kind of retort)
'male writer after a drink' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'writer' becomes 'bic' (kind of pen).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a drink' becomes 'ale' (ale is a kind of drink).
'm'+'bic'='mbic'
'mbic' after 'ale' is 'ALEMBIC'.
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for alembic that I've seen before include "Old retort" , "Still" , "Old distillation vessel" .)