A process for the production of secondary butyl alcohol by the direct hydration of n-butenes in the presence of an acidic cation exchange resin catalyst which comprises depressurizing the vaporous product stream from a reactor to a pressure ranging from 15 to 40 bar and cooling the depressurizing product stream to a temperature of 120 DEG C. or below to liquefy the product stream, separating an aqueous fraction from said stream leaving an alcohol-butene/butane organic mixture, vaporizing said organic mixture, depressurizing said organic mixture to a pressure ranging from 3 to 30 bar and including a pressure of from 3 to 8 bar and introducing said depressurized organic mixture into a separation column to separate secondary butyl alcohol from said mixture.
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