Drink brought back for close friend (3)
I believe the answer is:
pal
'close friend' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'drink brought back' is the wordplay.
'drink' becomes 'lap' (lapping is a kind of drinking).
'brought back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'lap' reversed gives 'PAL'.
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for pal that I've seen before include "China" , "Mate, informal friend" , "Close friend" , "Mate, buddy" , "Buddy, chum" .)