This paper presents a novel method to measure the concentration of methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), a widely used frother in coking coal flotation. It is based on the specific interaction between MIBC molecules and a formulated liquid mainly comprising cyclodextrin and pyrene. The method involves mixing the formulated liquid with the sample solution for a short period of time before measuring the absorbance using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. It shows high measuring accuracy with minimal interferences from diesel, flocculants and inorganic salts present at typical concentrations in coking coal flotation plants.