In this work, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCT) is evaluated as transducer, stabilizer and immobilization matrix for the construction of amperometric biosensor based on alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and Meldola's Blue (MB). The amperometric response was based on the electro catalytic properties of MB to oxidize NADH, which was generated in the enzymatic reaction of ethanol with NAD(+) under catalysis of ADH. It is shown that the employed materials are promising as electrochemical mediators and enzyme stabilizers. The enzyme was immobilized onto the MWCT adsorbed with MB by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. The dependence on the biosensor response for ethanol was investigated in terms of pH, supporting electrolyte, ADH and NAD(+) amounts and working potential. The amperometric response for alcohol using this biosensor showed excellent sensitivity (4.75 mu A cm(-2) mmol L-1), operational stability (around 95% of the activity was maintained after 300 determinations) and wide linear response range (0.05-10 mmol L-1)(.) These favorable characteristics allowed its application for measurements of ethanol in a great variety of alcoholic beverages with a simple dilution. The precision and recovery data showed by the proposed biosensor may give reliable results for real complex matrices. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.