In what should have been a delightful evening of cocktails and camaraderie, a Virginia woman found herself unwittingly concocting what she now refers to as the “margarita of despair.” This unexpected twist came during a gathering with friends, when Sadie Woodhouse of Richmond decided to try a cocktail infusion mix purchased from T.J. Maxx.

Hoping to create a fun and festive atmosphere, Woodhouse added tequila to the mix, which was marketed as a perfect companion to spirits like vodka or gin. The product, a popular item at the discount department store, features a glass bottle filled with dried fruit and spices designed to elevate any drinking experience.

However, the evening took a turn when the concoction failed to impress her guests. As a bridal stylist and wedding coordinator, Woodhouse is no stranger to creating memorable events, yet this one left much to be desired.

“The problem was the recipe that came with it called for two bottles of tequila and a bottle of lemon-lime soda, and they called it a margarita,” Woodhouse explained to the Daily Mail. The result was a drink significantly stronger than a traditional margarita, leaving everyone at the party feeling unwell.

Despite her best intentions, Woodhouse’s attempt at mixing up a fun cocktail resulted in an evening that was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Her experience serves as a reminder to approach new drink mixes with caution, especially when they come with unexpected twists.

‘It was wayyyyy stronger than a margarita which is why we all got so sick off of it!!!!!!!,’ she explained. 

In a TikTok video posted earlier this month Woodhouse detailed her horrific night, showing viewers the cocktail in a large glass dispenser. 

‘I’m really sorry that I made a margarita from T.J. Maxx and poisoned everyone,’ she wrote across an image of the forbidden drink. 

Sadie Woodhouse shared the horror story after she made what was supposed to be a fun and tasty cocktail for she and her friends at a recent party 

Instead, the margarita mix, which Woodhouse added two bottles of tequila into, ended up being the ‘margarita of despair’ 

She then showed a series of text messages from her friends complaining about their sickness while ominous music played in the background. 

‘Cici and I both threw up hella,’ a message read before cutting to a clip of someone pouring Hornitos tequila into the drink pitcher. 

‘Me too,’ one of Woodhouse’s friends, Charlotte, wrote alongside several laughing emojis. 

More of the agave liquor was seen being poured into the container as another message came across the screen, stating: ‘Margarita of despair.’ 

Her video, which garnered 4.7 million views, resonated with a lot of people as many shared they tried something similar from the store and had the same reaction Woodhouse and her friends did. 

‘Oh my God I used the same thing from T.J. Maxx and also violently threw up??,’ a user commented. 

‘Omg I had one of these and it was so awful it was like the worst thing I ever drank,’ another said. 

Someone else wrote: ‘No I’d actually be upset.’ 

While many people sympathized with Woodhouse, others appeared to think the amount of alcohol in the pitcher might have contributed to their symptoms. 

The glass drink dispenser is seen with dried fruit and spices inside of it as someone pours one of the tequila bottles in 

Woodhouse didn’t place full blame on the cocktail mix, telling the Daily Mail she and her friends are partially to blame because they still went ahead and drank the concoction 

‘Hornitos makes me feel like the sky is falling,’ a commenter posted. 

‘It’s that tequila babes,’ another chimed in. 

Other commenters insisted the mix itself might have expired and were puzzled about why anyone would buy food or drinks at T.J. Maxx. 

‘All the food and makeup at T.J. Maxx  is always so cursed,’ one wrote. 

‘The words: Margarita and T.J. Maxx do NAWT go together hahah,’ said another. 

Meanwhile, Woodhouse does not believe the mix she purchased went bad – it was simply just not a good recipe. 

‘The recipe was definitely not a margarita or even a good drink but the video was also partially a joke because it’s on us for drinking a drink that was two thirds tequila haha,’ she recalled. 

The Daily Mail contacted T.J. Maxx for comment.