DIY COW Clue-Writing Contests

[penfold_61]

Thanks to Boxwood for appreciating my colon.

As it's the quatorze juillet let's have a bash at

BASTILLE

[anax]

...however, I'm sure most are familiar with the chestnutty treatment along the lines of "Old prison HQ, until captured". Brilliant as that is, I hope we can find something more original!
_________________
Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

[anax]

From which prisoners were freed, but are yet to experience life on the outside? (8)

A (are) + STILL in BE
_________________
Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

[boxwood]

And French Liberals, without hesitation, stormed prison (8)

ET + LIB (er) ALS*

[AngryVocab]

Graduates the Spanish got drunk on return to French castle

BAS + (EL + LIT = 'got drunk') <=

[7dNigePun]

Back in Motherwell it's a big can of frogs (8)

[AngryVocab]

You couldn't possibly list Elba as a place to incarcerate Napoleon (8)

(listElba)* [& The Bastille pre-dated Nap I]

[penfold_61]

Scores on the doors...

A cracking effort from Boxwood:

And French Liberals, without hesitation, stormed prison (8)

The surface is totally relevant to the answer, the use of stormed as the anagrind is inspired.

If I were the Times xwd Ed, that would get the nod...

...but...

...nothing could top the brilliant winner from 7dNigePun:

Back in Motherwell it's a big can of frogs (8)

Brilliantly observed, terrifically executed, and laugh-out-loud funny.