This invention provides (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase that catalyzes oxidation-reduction reaction using NAD.sup.+ (NADH) as a coenzyme and the genes that encodes them. The enzymes of this invention can be obtained from microorganisms such as the genera Pichia, Candida, and Ogataea, and so on. It is possible to produce alcohols, in particular, alcohols such as (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters and (R)-propoxybenzene derivatives by reducing ketones with this (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase. Moreover, the (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase of this invention is excellent in activity and stereoselectivity.