| ATSHORTNOTICE | A dram, perhaps, straight, swilling round first taste forthwith (2,5,6) |
| IDEA | From "form, see", a brainwave, light bulb moment or penny-dropping fancy, perhaps straight from the mind of Plato, who holds the key (4) |
| RAMROD | Appropriately named upright, stiff Lisbon onion - or dram, perhaps (6) |
| TONIGHT | Nearly opening wee dram, perhaps later today |
| BAPTISMOFFIRE | First experience of a severe ordeal, especially a first taste of military combat (7,2,4) |
| SIP | First taste of a drink perhaps |
| TABLET | On time, can get first taste of a pill (6) |
| DRAMA | A tot given first taste of theatricality (5) |
| TICKLER | A puzzle or brainteaser; a poker; a Dickensian word for a cane; a dram of spirits; or, a memorandum (7) |
| VISCERA | I crave first taste of southern fried offal (7) |
| ANORECTIC | Bad reaction on first taste of claret, lacking in body? |
| TRICE | Take first taste of valuable grain at the moment (5) |
| RABBIT | Meat of which religious leader has first taste |
| VALUE | Worth for all to see in first taste of vodka and beer (5) |
| JACOB | Scrooge's first taste of spirits (5,6) |
| MARLEY | Scrooge's first taste of spirits (5,6) |
| HOSPICE | Care facility gets hot spice without first taste (7) |
| BEET | Sugar plant gives honey maker first taste of it (4) |
| BLIP | Hiccup taking first taste of brown sauce (4) |
| CHOOK | First taste of cider punch for 11Dn (5) |
