It was made commercially that way before the use of oil-derived hydrocarbons.

The new patent is based on keeping the biological portion in the butynol side of the reaction.

(I looked up their patent in the past....I don't want to spend the time looking it up again, so perhaps someone here will)

No need to look up the patent. They summarize the history of butanol, with links to additional information (and to the patent) at http://www.butanol.com/.