Abstract: A cap for a bottle containing a carbonated beverage provides a dispensing mechanism that prevents carbonation gas from escaping from the bottle as the beverage is being dispensed. The cap has a housing with a first end adapted to mate with a neck of the bottle and an opening out of which beverage to be dispensed flows. A valve is mounted in the housing having a first end coupled in fluid communication with the bottle when the cap is on the bottle and a second end coupled in fluid communication to an outlet in the housing. A manually operated actuator is coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve.