Can you solve this clue and if so, how did you get there?

[CharlotteOwlFace]

It's a cryptic crossword clue (if you've seen my other thread, I've decided to try and do stuff that I've never done before and well, a cryptic crossword is one of those things

With good reason, as I now know

So - without googling or giving the answer away if you've actually done this one today - what's your answer? And more importantly, what in this clue got you there?

Because even with the answer I'm still struggling with how it translated to this

STIR COCKTAIL (7)

Ah yeah but that wouldn't be cryptic🤔

Surely that's exactly who you want to answer as long as they explain the reasoning? More the point of the thread than ruining it.

@Augend23 sigh. What's the point in a guessing thread if someone says immediately the answer BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE THE CROSSWORD?

Rotates ?

It comes from old Romani slang. You kind of have to be one of those "mine of useless information" people to do cryptic crosswords 😂

Saw the answer but immediately though another word for prison which is a drink.

I give up. I can't explain any further to half wits

Because it didn’t give other people a chance to suggest answers. OP quite clearly said if you have done the crossword, don’t comment. And yet the sixth comment did just that!

I didn't know slammer was a cocktail, so no chance

Yeah, when I was very young my Aunty tried to teach me & show me the indicators for the type of answer it was. Despite being puzzle mad, cryptic leaves me cold too.

Seeing the people who can solve the crossword clue can't read an OP, I guess that they used something like this

I did get it when I read it, but that's because I've been doing cryptic crosswords for years (used to be the Telegraph, now the Guardian and the Times).
I still find that sort of clue - double definition - the hardest because you either know the synonyms or not. I'm better at assembling-type clues.
Both "stir" and "slammer" for prison are worth remembering - also "can".
Hope you enjoyed the experience.

Apologies. DH is a crossword buff and he is "busy" waiting for teen in a sports centre.
I hit the wrong page of my phone...wanders off to prepare snacks...

I wouldn’t have got that in a million years.

Bit annoying that there wasn’t chance for other posters to try and guess though.

I used to be a cocktail waitress...its funny but I was told it would never get me anywhere. Now look at me 😀

Twizzle?

Oh, I get it. Stir (prison) slammer (prison) cocktail (slammer)

The reason I bloody hate and cannot do cryptic crosswords.

Him (now back) indoors has opined is that it is a double literal.

Me, I think I'll stick to PlusWord (I am one of the slower ones on that thread).

If you're considering persevering with cryptics, I'd really recommend the Times Quick Cryptic. It's easier than the Telegraph - that's not meant to be patronising; I still really enjoy it - and there's a website called "Times for the Times" where you're taken through each clue with explanations. There's a message board to read (and post on, if you wish).
It's a really good way to progress and learn the tricks of the trade.
Like the clue you've given as an example: my first thought would be that a two word clue is likely to be a double definition as there's not much else to play with. So I started running through synonyms that would fit both words. "Stir" crops up often for "prison" so I started thinking of other words for prison: jail/gaol/can/slammer... ah!
Cryptic crosswords use a lot of fairly old fashioned slang, I'm afraid.
I don't know whether that was the sort of answer you were looking for?

@CharlotteOwlFace putting the cross in crossword

Can't be this as cocktail has 8 letters and the answer only has 7.

I'd go with the answer that @OchonAgusOchonOh suggested. That's a cocktail that is actually supposed to be stirred not shaken and it only has 7 letters.

Ah, I'd only read the first few posts. I wouldn't have gotten it from that clue at all.

People saying they've not heard of stir meaning prison, have you heard the phrase stir crazy? I understand that to mean going mad with frustration at being stuck inside or in a place you can't get out of, but the original meaning was frustration and violence from prisoners.

Whichever cryptic you choose to do, you will eventually start to understand what different phrases mean. I think the Telegraph cryptic also has a website that gives you cookies to get answer and breaks it down for you. My parents did the Telegraph cryptic together daily and so myself and brothers are all quite good at it but I get really stuck on the Times. Sometimes, because there are different writers, I will try a Telegraph crossword and only manage about 3 answers.
Sometimes you work out the answer without ever knowing why our guess the answer from the letters given and then work out why afterwards.
I always prefer the ones with several words.

Watch Inside no 9s the Riddle of the Sphinx, gives a good explanation of how to solve cryptic crosswords. Warning, also contains cannibalism 😬