Tavern English drinker introduced to a graduate in America (9)
I believe the answer is:
minnesota
'in america' is the definition.
(I know that Minnesota is part of United States of America)
'tavern english drinker introduced to a graduate' is the wordplay.
'tavern' becomes 'inn' (I've seen this in another clue).
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'drinker' becomes 'sot' (sot is a kind of drinker).
'introduced to' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a graduate' becomes 'MA' (abbreviation for Master of Arts).
'inn'+'e'+'sot'='innesot'
'innesot' placed into 'ma' is 'MINNESOTA'.
(Other definitions for minnesota that I've seen before include "North Star State" , "US state -. of Iowa" , "Superior neighbour" , "US state, capital St Paul" , "Wobegon state (Keillor)" .)