Provided is a method for the production of refined, low-acetal ethanol, comprising providing a fermentation product produced by fermentation of a carbon source with an ethanol-producing organism, which fermentation product comprises between 30% wt and 99% wt ethanol, between 70% wt and 1% wt water and between 20 and 2000 parts per million acetal; contacting said fermentation product with an acid catalyst, whereby at least 20% of the acetal hydrolyses to form a hydrolysis product comprising ethanol, water, acetaldehyde and optionally residual acetal; and distilling said hydrolysis product, whereby distilled, low-acetal ethanol is formed.

A system for redistilling alcohol includes a heating vessel configured to receive a continuous stream of liquid white spirit and vaporize the liquid white spirit and a flavor vessel in direct fluid communication with and downstream of the heating vessel. The flavor vessel houses various botanicals and allows the vaporized white spirit to passes over the botanicals, thereby vaporizing volatile compounds of the botanicals and flavoring the vaporized white spirit. The system further includes a condenser in fluid communication with and downstream of the flavor vessel to obtain a redistilled alcohol product. Methods of redistilling an alcohol are also provided.