Twelve items in this crossword might be found in 4 down. If you prefer to work on the interactive version of the crossword or to print a pdf. please click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Here’s a bit of crossword news too. The BBC CiNA 3D Calendar Crossword, the sales of which all go to help Children in Need is now available for purchase on-line. Well-known compilers like Pasquale, Rufus, Enigmatist and Lavatch have given their work to the project. It will make a fine Christmas present for any crossword-lover and all the money produced by sales goes to the children (a company is even printing the first 500 copies for free!)  Here is a link.

Across

    1  An aniseed flavoured spirit of Turkey and the East Mediterranean (4)

    3  Strong green liqueur flavoured with wormwood and anise (8)

    9  Smooth glossy coatings that resemble ceramic glaze (7)

  10  A sudden outburst of anger (5)

  11  A drink made with yoghurt or buttermilk diluted with water and flavoured with salt or fruit juice (5)

  12  Hold back within (6)

  14  The food and drink of the gods; mortals who ate it became immortal (6)

  16  Any of various strong liquors distilled from the fermented sap of toddy palms or from fermented molasses (6)

  19  A ruminant’s third stomach, the psalterium or manyplies (6)

  21  Unaged colourless liquor originating in Russia (5)

  24  Italian violin maker in Cremona; taught the craft to Guarneri and Stradivari (1596-1684) (5)

  25  A traditional Hindu form of decoration on floors or doorsteps, forming patterns of coloured sand and riceflour (7)

  26  Liquorice-flavoured usually colourless sweet liqueur made from aniseed (8)

  27  Long flat runners attached to the feet for gliding over snow (4)

Down

    1  Fragrant dry or sweet white wine from the Rhine valley or a similar wine from California (8)

    2 Fermented beverage resembling beer but made from rye or barley (5)

    4  A small informal restaurant; serves wine (6)

    5  Signal going into an electronic system (5)

    6  Mexican liquor made from fermented juices of an agave plant (7)

    7  A fencing sword similar to a foil but with a heavier blade (4)

    8  The innermost light-sensitive membrane covering the back wall of the eyeball (6)

  13 Scandinavian spirits made from potatoes or grain usually flavoured with caraway seeds (8)

  15  A mildly bitter aperitif, coloured with cochineal, often drunk with soda water or orange juice (7)

  17  A deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water) (6)

  18  Dry red Bordeaux or Bordeaux-like wine (6)

  20  A former administrative district of England; equivalent to a county (5)

  22  To drench in Scotland (5)

  23  An alcoholic drink made from the aromatic roots of a shrub (4)

Here is last week’s solution: