But few of today's imaginative ideas would have made it onto drawing boards without cork's competition from screw-top bottle caps, plastic stoppers and aluminum Tetra Paks.

WSJ: Cork's Popping Potential

Fill a bottle with cool water, screw it into the carbonator, press the fizz button five or six times, add the mix to the bottle (I recommend doing this over a sink), close the bottle and shake a few times.

ENGADGET: Switched On: The rules of Soda Club (Part 1)

Llanbradach-born Stephen Thomas's Topster - A screw-on pourer which prevents milk from dripping down the side of the bottle and making a mess of your fridge which now sells 2, 500 a month and is available through Lakeland stores.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | Inventors reveal their new ideas