Calorimetric and acoustic experiments were conducted on pure ethanol in the temperature range around 80-180 K, in which different solid-solid and solid-liquid transitions are observed. Using a versatile calorimetric experimental system, the specific heats of the different phases were accurately measured and the phase transitions between them investigated. The latter investigation was supported by complementary Brillouin-scattering experiments. The influence of several factors in the kinetics of crystallization versus vitrification is demonstrated and briefly discussed.