The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word WHISKIES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
W
H
I
S
K
I
E
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "drinks" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case drinks = whiskies.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WHISKIES mean?
WHISKIES noun- A liquor distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley).
- A drink of whiskey.
- A light gig or carriage; a tim-whiskey.
- The letter W in the ICAO spelling alphabet.
- An alcoholic liquor distilled from fermented grain and usually aged in oak barrels.
- A drink of this liquor.
- A light gig or carriage.