ETHYL Alcohol (Ethanol) is the good stuff in JD Whiskey, (and Granny Hillbillie's moonshine, that's good for the ol' rheumatiz'
Ethanol is made from grain or corn by a fermentation process (renewable resource)
It is becoming more and more used in gasolines about 10% by volume now, and is now becoming available in up to 85% by volume in gasoline. It is a good engine fuel, but contains less BTU's than, and is harder to ignite than straight gasoline. Ethanol is a slower burning fuel than staright gasoline, and therefore raises the octane rating (antiknock qualities) of the fuel.
Many of General Motors' new pickup truck Vortec engines are cabaple of running on E-85 85% Ethanol gasolines. The computers in the trucks have the capability of recognizing the E-85 fuel, and it then recalibrates the engine's fuel management system to be able to run on the high Ethanol gasoline.
The remaining 15% gasoline helps to ignite the mixture easlly, and give the fuel mixture enough BTU's (energy) to power the truck's engine adequately.
A standard motorcycle engine today will probably not run too well on those higher concentrations of ethanol in the gasoline, without being re-tuned for it.

METHYL Alcohol (Methanol) is the stuff they make winsdsheild washer fluid and gasline antifreeze out of. It is sometimes also found in gasoline of cheap quality. Methanol is made from natural gas during processing of the natural gas. Methanol is hard on rubber, and it can cause stress cracking and corrosion in steel, and it causes corrosion on aluminum and magnesium.
Methanol absorbs through your skin and can attack your liver and shut down your immune system too.
Most engine manufacturers strongly advise against the use of gasolines containing any more than maximum 10% Methanol. Methanol can cause damage and corrosion to engine and fuel system parts, and damage caused by Methanol is often not covered under your warranty.

That's the small amount I know about it all.