Across:
8 Foremost grappa (foremost/leading “grappa” = G-) drink (-TEA-) consumed in precious type (gold = Au = -A-U) (GATEAU) of cake (GATEAU),
9 Caught (C-) in the forest (-ASH-) with batch (CROP) (CASH CROP) the agricultural worker relies on (CASH CROP),
10 The Queen (playing CARD) produced most of those (s) at the end of 11 across (end of “on the cards” and “cards” without “s” = CARD),
11 Best wishes perhaps (best wishes ON THE CARDS) – how likely is that? (ON THE CARDS),
12 Say it isn’t so (DENIAL), as it wasn’t me (DENIAL),
14 24 across (POST-) and 10 across (-CARD) (POSTCARD) providing news from the travellers (POSTCARD),
15 Comment (OBSERVATION) from half of 14 across (half of “postcard” = POST) (OBSERVATION POST) is a general view perhaps (army general view / OBSERVATION POST),
18 Support (support/pillar = POST-) case (-BAG-) at society (-S) (POSTBAGS) for man of letters (POSTBAGS),
20 Provides a reminder (CU-E) about Dublin (-D-) meeting Donegal (-DL-) (CUDDLE) in tight encounter that’s supposed to be friendly (CUDDLE),
22 Arresting biker (TRAFFIC COP) possibly in a jam (TRAFFIC) having to endlessly (e) survive (cope) (“cope” without “e” = COP) (TRAFFIC COP),
24 Opts (opts = POST) out (= anagram indicator) of appointment (POST),
25 Judge (ASSESS-) overlooks extreme (“overlooks” extreme = -O-) writing (from the 3Rs = -R) (ASSESSOR) in The Examiner (the examiner = ASSESSOR),
26 Magic’s missing from Olympic Games (“magics” missing from “Olympic Games” = olypme = EMPLOY) Commission (EMPLOY).
Down:
1 In a manner of speaking, hammer (hammer/lambaste = SAVAGE) left (l) out for scrap (“salvage” without “l” = SAVAGE),
2 The Clash (FEUD) can be relatively unpleasant? (family FEUD),
3 Guy’s oval (guys oval = YUGOSLAV) sculpture (= anagram indicator) produced by old Eastern European (YUGOSLAV),
4 Duke of Edinburgh perhaps (SCOT) found in San Francisco town (found in “San Francisco town” = SCOT),
5 Possessions (ASSETS) from a (A-) place (-SET-) in the boat (-S-S) (ASSETS),
6 Takes note (SCRATCH PAD) of type of swingers (SCRATCH golfers/swingers) pack (PAD) (SCRATCH PAD),
7 Country (HONDURAS) hotel (H-) for travelling (= anagram indicator) around (around = -ONDURA-) Capital of Surinam (Capital of “Surinam” = -S) (HONDURAS),
13 Organisation (= anagram indicator) fined site (fined site = IDENT-FIES) over initial indiscretion (initial “indiscretion” = -I-) (IDENTIFIES) by associates (IDENTIFIES),
14 Approaches (PATHS) secretary (personal assistant = PA-) for the (the) unfinished (e) (‘the’ unfinished = -TH-) school (-S) (PATHS),
16 Reserve (BOOK-) restaurant opening (“restaurant” opening = -R-) on Oriental (east = -E-) street (-ST) (BOOKREST) for literary supporter (BOOKREST),
17 Takes over (OCCUPIES) copies (copies = OC-PIES) misprinted (= anagram indicator) about copper (-CU-) (OCCUPIES),
19 Admits (admits = AMIDST) criminal (= anagram indicator) is at the centre of things (AMIDST),
21 Some Los Angeles songwriters (some “Los Angeles songwriters” = LESSON) taught in school (LESSON),
23 Limits cabinet ministers (limits/sides “cabinet ministers” = CARS) having more than one for the road (CARS),
24 Just about overcomes the opposition (PIPS) on both sides of pirate ships (on both sides of “pirate ships” = PIPS).