Gin flavouring is dull reportedly (4)
I believe the answer is:
sloe
'gin flavouring' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'dull reportedly' is the wordplay.
'dull' becomes 'slow' (synonyms).
'reportedly' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'slow' is a homophone of 'SLOE'.
'is' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sloe that I've seen before include "Thorny bush with plum-like fruit" , "Fruit of the blackthorn does't sound fast" , "Musical study" , "Sour blackthorn fruit" , "Sour blue-black fruit" .)