A process is provided for making a reaction product comprising 1-butanol by contacting a reactant comprising ethanol containing a significant amount of water with a decomposed hydrotalcite catalyst. The catalyst may be 1) hydrotalcites which have been thermally decomposed, either partially or fully, to form catalytically active species; 2) combinations of hydrotalcites (optionally containing transition metals) and metal carbonates; and 3) hydrotalcites (optionally containing transition metals) surface-impregnated with a transition metal nitrate, where catalysts 2) and 3) have also been thermally decomposed, either partially or fully, to form catalytically active species. The catalyst, at a selected reaction time, has greater activity when the ethanol contains water as compared to when the ethanol is anhydrous.