Question

Why does water travel up paper towels faster than rubbing alcohol?

Answer 1

Water forms stronger intermolecular attractions to the cellulose fibers in paper towels than does rubbing alcohol; also it's smaller.

Though both are able to form hydrogen bonds, water has four hydrogen-bonding sites which are equally accessible, while rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) has three hydrogen and accessibility is minimized due to bulkiness of the isopropyl side chain.

Also since water is smaller and lighter, the electrostatic forces needed to overcome gravity is also minimized.

That's my best guess.