TX Duo Review - Tatuaje Pork Chop 2016

[Çnote]

For a lot of people it's probably SnS day!

I smoked one of these earlier this year, so when I saw this in Duo I didn't hesitate.

Starts strong and fearless with the roasted ancho pork I often get in this band of Tatuaje. Races to pick up creme and baking spice. It was already the full side of medium but the bottom drops out and it's full bore pork, mushroom, smoked paprika, oak campfire. The nub shows a little espresso.

Smoke is silky smooth even with the bigboi flavors. Superb for me even without much sweetness. Easy 92. Maybe @Capn_Jackson can fit this into his schedule.

[Capn_Jackson]

From the get-go, this is not a subtle stick. Great notes of berry and raisin, coffee and cocoa freely explode all over the place. This cigar enters a room like Kramer, bombastic and glaring.

Going on, cashew butter over sourdough toast. Lots of cedar, with a very dry coffee finish. The age has done this one very nicely, although I can’t remember if I’ve ever had a fresh one to compare. Also noticing faintly, mulled wine with wisps of raspberry and cream. More cocoa powder on the finish. Confectioner’s sugar in the back, and a bit of cream. Soon things turn to savory spices, oregano, with some buttery notes. Not so much pork as it is the fat around a pork loin. Oak BBQ smoke.

Around the midpoint, I get a very Snickers bar vibe, or Milky Way. Unfolding later into a vanilla, caramel, toasted bourbon barrel sweetness, still with candy bar toffee. Seems like every puff is alternating between this and buttered mushroom with savory spices. After the first band, get another major shift into an eggy dish. Breakfast scrambled egg hash with bacon, and chipotle tabasco sauce. The chipotle is the only real “heat” I’ve noticed in this stick so far. Complex for such a little guy!

At the end, no more egg, no more funky mushroom. This is all roasted pork carnitas with cumin and poblano cream. Great finish to this small but complex smoke!

90 from me.

[Capn_Jackson]

@Çnote, looks like we smoked the same cigar, more than ever!

[Çnote]

14 hours ago, Capn_Jackson said:

@Çnote, looks like we smoked the same cigar, more than ever!

Yes this is the new level. To the best of my knowledge you have not had this fresh. 2009 and 2016 releases. We are kinda showing off with these. YOLO.

[Capn_Jackson]

On 10/26/2025 at 3:26 PM, Çnote said:

2009 and 2016 releases

Yep, I was thinking of something else.

[Çnote]

12 hours ago, Capn_Jackson said:

Yep, I was thinking of something else

Probably Pork Tenderloin or Lomo as it's been released recently and is in the same sandbox of blend.