A dispensing tap (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 700) for the dispensing of liquids from a container, the dispensing tap (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 700) comprising: a body (102; 202; 302; 502; 702); a dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708); and a throat (110; 210; 510; 710) connecting the body (102; 202; 302; 702) to the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708) and providing a flow path from a container through an interior of the body (102; 202; 302; 702) and into an interior of the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708), the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708) including: a mouth (114; 214; 714); a shut off valve (116; 216; 516; 616; 716) configured for sealing engagement with the mouth of the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708); a piston (118; 218; 518; 718) axially guided within said dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708), said piston (118; 218; 518; 718) having a lower end including a valve stem (122; 522; 722) coupled to said shut off valve (116; 216; 516; 716) and a button (130; 230; 530; 730) integrated with the piston (118; 218; 518; 718), the piston being selectively actuable between a normally closed position wherein the shut off valve is seated within the mouth, and, upon actuation of said button (130; 230; 530; 730), an open position wherein the shut off valve is disengaged from the mouth (114; 214; 714) to allow the flow of fluid out of the mouth (114; 214; 714); and a spring (134; 234; 734) between the piston (118; 218; 518; 718) and the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708) and the spring (134; 234; 734) normally biasing said piston (118; 218; 518; 718) and said shut off valve (116; 216; 516; 716) to said closed position to prevent flow of fluid out of the mouth (114; 214; 714) of the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708); characterized by the spring is a slotted tubular spring (134; 234;734); the valve stem (122; 522; 722) including an upper loading cone (136; 536) and the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708) including a lower loading cone (138; 538) between which the slotted tubular spring (134; 234; 734) is captured; and the button (130; 230; 530; 730) having a peripheral seal (120; 220; 520; 720) for slidably engaging an interior surface of the dispensing head at the upper end thereof. a body (102; 202; 302; 502; 702); a dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708); and a throat (110; 210; 510; 710) connecting the body (102; 202; 302; 702) to the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708) and providing a flow path from a container through an interior of the body (102; 202; 302; 702) and into an interior of the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708), a mouth (114; 214; 714); a shut off valve (116; 216; 516; 616; 716) configured for sealing engagement with the mouth of the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708); a piston (118; 218; 518; 718) axially guided within said dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708), said piston (118; 218; 518; 718) having a lower end including a valve stem (122; 522; 722) coupled to said shut off valve (116; 216; 516; 716) and a button (130; 230; 530; 730) integrated with the piston (118; 218; 518; 718), the piston being selectively actuable between a normally closed position wherein the shut off valve is seated within the mouth, and, upon actuation of said button (130; 230; 530; 730), an open position wherein the shut off valve is disengaged from the mouth (114; 214; 714) to allow the flow of fluid out of the mouth (114; 214; 714); and a spring (134; 234; 734) between the piston (118; 218; 518; 718) and the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708) and the spring (134; 234; 734) normally biasing said piston (118; 218; 518; 718) and said shut off valve (116; 216; 516; 716) to said closed position to prevent flow of fluid out of the mouth (114; 214; 714) of the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708); characterized by the spring is a slotted tubular spring (134; 234;734); the valve stem (122; 522; 722) including an upper loading cone (136; 536) and the dispensing head (108; 208; 508; 708) including a lower loading cone (138; 538) between which the slotted tubular spring (134; 234; 734) is captured; and the button (130; 230; 530; 730) having a peripheral seal (120; 220; 520; 720) for slidably engaging an interior surface of the dispensing head at the upper end thereof.