A method for preparing a mixture of lower aliphatic alcohols from the reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a sulfide-containing heavy metal catalyst under carbon monoxide-hydrogenation conditions in which said catalyst comprises at least one sulfided heavy metal element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, rhenium, and an alkali or alkaline earth promoter which has been treated with a nitrogen-containing compound, or a thermally stable derivative thereof is provided.