Abstract The Waterloo Fast Pyrolysis methodology which employs a bed of fluidized sand at atmospheric pressure was used to evaluate the yields of pyrolytic liquids from Italian sweet sorghum and sweet sorghum bagasse. Reaction temperatures were varied from 400°C to 560°C, and apparent volatiles residence times from 222 to 703 ms. The sorghum bagasse gave results typical of similar grasses. A maximum liquid yield (dry basis) of 69.4% by weight was achieved at 510°C when the volatiles apparent residence time was held constant at 500 ms. However, at shorter residence times (255 ms), liquid yields were slightly higher at a constant temperature of 525°C. Because of the high ash content of the bagasse, the char obtained (about 13%) had an ash content of nearly 50%. The liquid product composition was similar to that obtained from fast pyrolysis of other grasses. Tests were also done with bagasse which had been deionized. A much higher conversion of the cellulose and hemicellulose content to anhydrosugars resulted, with a corresponding reduction in low molecular weight carbonyl compounds. Whole (raw) sweet sorghum was pyrolyzed similarly. The high sugar content (36%) of this biomass resulted in a more unusual pyrolysis behaviour. High yields of carbon dioxide were obtained, and liquid yields were somewhat lower (63%) than those from the bagasse, and were obtained at a lower temperature (450°C). Volatiles residence time in the range used had little effect on liquid yield amounts. Both raw sweet sorghum and sweet sorghum bagasse appear to be suitable feedstocks for the production of organic liquids by fast pyrolysis. However, better yields and a better quality liquid (for fuel purposes) are obtained from the bagasse.