When people hear the term Champagne, they generally think of any type of effervescent wine. Names like Tupperware, Ziploc, or Kleenex come to mind - known brands that have come to represent a whole product range. Yet, the reality is different. Champagne isn't just another name for sparkling wine, especially in France where it hails from.

French law fiercely guards the integrity of Champagne, restricting its use to sparkling wine brewed exclusively in the Champagne region in northern France. The distinct character of this bubbly - a result of the region's terroir and traditional winemaking techniques - cannot be replicated.

According to Food & Wine editorial director Dylan Garret, using a random effervescent wine might not suffice when one is crafting cocktails with Champagne. "Champagne carries unique aromas and flavors, needing careful calibration according to the cocktail it’s added to. Unlike the broader category of sparkling wine, Champagne doesn't fit all taste profiles," says Garret.

With its rich, savoury essence, toasty aromas, citrus flavors, and delicate bubbles, Champagne presents unique challenges when mixed with other ingredients. It pairs well with whiskey but not so much with an Aperol Spritz, for example.

However, according to Garret, classic cocktails shine when mixed with Champagne. He uses the Boothby, a San Francisco classic created by William “Cocktail Bill” Boothby in the 1800s, as an example. The Boothby is a twist on a Manhattan, made brighter with a splash of Champagne. The fine, delicate bubbles and toasty fragrance of Champagne emphasize the yeasty notes in the rye whiskey – aspects which an effervescent like Prosecco wouldn’t carry off as well.

Garret recommends starting with the original version when recreating a classic cocktail and then gradually altering the ingredients. He says, "If not, you wind up with a fuzzy reproduction of the original, losing its essence in a series of customized adjustments.”

For cocktail mixes, extra brut or brut Champagnes, the driest styles, are optimum. The Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Brut ($43) is a recommended, readily available choice.

Here are three classic Champagne cocktails that bring a touch of luxury and sparkle to any celebration:

1) The Boothby, which gives a Manhattan a Champagne twist and consists of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, and an ounce of chilled Champagne.

2) The Champagne Cocktail, a classic made with sparkling wine, bitters, sugar, and Champagne. Created in 1862 by Jerry Thomas, this balanced, citrusy cocktail with a hint of sweetness and spice adds sparkle to the cocktail lexicon.

3) The Death in the Afternoon, a cocktail combining absinthe and brut Champagne, named after Ernest Hemingway's 1932 book. From literary masterpieces to inspiring classic cocktails like the Hemingway Daiquiri, this green cocktail is one of Hemingway's original creations.