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Hi Phil
Read it upwards. The drink is more familiar in the US, I think - remember "Trading places"?

Hi Chris
Oh blimey, I'm even more confused now. If I read it upwards, my answer is just nonsense. It's decades since I've seen Trading Places, so I'm afraid that doesn't help.

Crikey. Just got it! Simpson!!!!! Terrible clue, though!

Just wondering if 'rejected' is a legit indicator for read back to front/upside down. I don't think I've ever seen it used in that way before. Thanks for your help, Chris -- I guess the plot of Trading Places was hiding somewhere in the recesses of my mind!
More positively, I agree with the comments about 5D -- very clever -- but my COD is definitely 11A. Perfect surface and a fine example of this setter's greatest talent: amazingly appropriate anagrams.

Hi Phil, I recall Philistine used ‘rejected’ in this way a couple of weeks ago in the Prize. Here’s the clue...

Drunk may do this to house plant, if rejected (5)

Thanks Jono. I've never been much good at picking up on new trends!

It also featured in the Quiptic on 21st September...

Reserved area idiot rejected (5)

So it’s definitely becoming ‘accepted’. Not saying I like it, in fact I don’t.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this much - Although I liked my COD 9a. Otherwise, although it was certainly taxing I found it a bit joyless.

I agree that the reverse is true of 23a and I can't parse 21d even though the answer is clear from the crossers & confirmed by previous comments about the singer-songwriter.

Another gripe is that I wouldn't describe the film mentioned in 1a as a war film...

Also def of 6a is to surely to immitate rather than plagiarise?

Moan over!

I found this more like a midweek cryptic than a gentle introduction to Sunday. 21d was one of several that I got only by courtesy of OneLook Dictionary - thank you chrise for the parsing.

I still don't understand 23a.

David W
It's a poker term for a visible reaction to what you have in your hand. As someone said earlier, it only helps you win if it's someone else's reaction!