Hot drink served up, coming shortly (4)
I believe the answer is:
nigh
'shortly' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adverbs. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'hot drink served up' is the wordplay.
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation, eg on taps).
'drink' becomes 'gin' (gin is an alcoholic drink).
'served up' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, going upwards).
'h'+'gin'='hgin'
'hgin' written backwards gives 'NIGH'.
'coming' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nigh that I've seen before include "Old word for near, as the end may be" , "Near; close" , "Almost (arch.)" , "Near in time or place" , "Near at hand" .)