No 13865, Monday 15 May 2023, Crescent

Solution to 18D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

8   Drink some wine from counter (4) FENI [T<=]

9   Ring returning gold, sound of digging into mountains? (10) OROLOGICAL {O}{OR<=}{LOGICAL

10 Herb to the West, or coriander primarily, that Latin cooking shares (8) CILANTRO {OR}{Co...r}<= over {LATIN}*

11 'A' quality shelled nuts served with milk (2,4) AU LAIT {A}{qUALITy}*

12 People close to chief can cheat to some extent (4,2) KIND OF {KIND}{tO}{c..eF} (Addendum - {KIN}{DO}{c..eF} - See comments)

13 Boater, say going round Italian island, an islander? (8) TAHITIAN {HAT<=}{IT}{I}{AN}

15 Fancy silver bringing out pet passion to have the perfect set (3,4,1,5) FIT LIKE A GLOVE {LIKE}{AG}{LOVE}<=>{FIT} (Addendum - {LIKE}{AG} in  {FIT}{LOVE} - See comments)

17 Poor souls, by inhaling Ecstasy, wish to sneeze? (5,3) BLESS YOU {SOULS+BY}* over {E}

19 Army told to switch position resulting in defeat (3,3) SEE OFF {(~ sea)SEE}{OFF}

21 Head over before time for soup (6) POTAGE {TOP<=}{AGE}

23 State is dividing group in revolt (8) UPRISING {UP}{R{IS}ING}

24 Instant reprimand of sorts (6-4) SECOND-RATE {SECOND}{RATE}

25 Join a bar (4) ABUT {A}{BUT}

DOWN

1   Old house of Florence Nightingale, essentially about the same in retrospect (6) MEDICI {n...tIn...e}{C}{IDEM}<=

2   Cocktail sort of rummy, rum all but dainty (3,3,2) GIN AND IT {GIN}{DAINTy}*

3   Fabulous creature's horn just sticking outside from hay (5,5) TOOTH FAIRY {TOOT}{H{FAIR}aY}

4   Target most vulnerable area of huge gaur, jolt and run off (2,3,3,7) GO FOR THE JUGULAR {OF+HUGE+GAUR+JOLT+R}*

5   Hip American supporting those that crow aloud (4) COXA {A}<=>{(~cocks)COX}

6   Olive tree's first new flower (6) VIOLET {OLIVE+Tree}*

7   Suicidal king out of bounds, like in a jungle (8) KAMIKAZE {K}{A}{M{lIKe}AZE}

14 Main way to deal with setter - perhaps answering this for clue? (4,6) HIGH STREET {SETTER}* [RA]

15 Succeeded in doubling base amidst collapse (8) FOLLOWED {FOL{LOW}{E}D} 

16 Excited voters missing leader may remain longer than expected (8) OVERSTAY {VOTERS*}{mAY}

18 Spread pounds scammed in cloud (6) S?A?O? 

20 Day spent by pool to conduct non-competitive event (3,3) FUN RUN {FUNd}{RUN}

22 Stops boundaries (4) ENDS [DD]

Reference list

Gold = OR, Italian = IT, Island = I, Ecstasy = E, About = C, The same = IDEM, Run = R, American = A, King = K, Base = LOW, Base = E, Day = D