He I photoelectron spectra have been recorded for the F + C2H5OH reaction, and a band has been identified associated with the primary reaction product CH3CHOH. The first adiabatic and vertical ionization energies of this radical have been measured as (6.64 +/- 0.03) and (7.29 +/- 0.03) eV respectively. The assignment of this band to CH3CHOH is supported by nb initio calculations performed at the G2 level of theory. Spectra recorded at different reaction times have demonstrated the short-lived nature of CH3CHOH and the major pathway of the F + C2H5OH reaction. The value measured for the adiabatic ionization energy has allowed the heat of formation of CH3CHOH to be derived from the heat of formation of CH3(C)HOH(+).