The gene encoding an (S)-specific NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (RE-ADH) was isolated from the genomic DNA of Rhodococcus erythropolis DSM 43297. The nucleotide sequence of 1,047 bp, coding for 348 amino acids, was cloned in Escherichia coli cells and successfully expressed. The subunit molecular mass as deduced from the amino acid sequence was determined to be 36.026 kDa. The recombinant enzyme exhibited high thermostability, which facilitated its purification by heat treatment, followed by two column-chromatography steps. RE-ADH shows high similarity to several zinc-containing medium-chain alcohol dehydrogenases. All zinc ligands seem to be conserved except one of the catalytic zinc ligands, where Cys is probably substituted by Asp. A similarity of 84% with a phenylacetaldehyde reductase from Corynebacterium sp. ST-10 was determined. Biochemical properties such as thermostability and substrate specificity of the two enzymes were compared.