Process for reducing the water and carboxylic acid content of an alcohol composition containing at least one C1-4 alcohol, water and at least one C1-4 carboxylic acid by (a) forming a vapor phase alcohol composition A and a liquid phase alcohol composition B, (b) separating a second vapor phase alcohol composition C and an aqueous phase D from the liquid phase alcohol composition B, the aqueous phase D containing the majority of the carboxylic acid that was present in the liquid phase alcohol composition B; (c) passing the vapor phase alcohol composition A to a drying unit, (d) passing the vapor phase alcohol composition C to a drying unit; and (e) recovering an alcohol composition from the drying units of steps (c) and (d). The recovered alcohol composition of step (e) has a reduced water and carboxylic acid content.