Pork butt is actually a cut from the upper shoulder of the pig - not anywhere you’d expect based on the name.

The term comes from Colonial New England, when butchers packed inexpensive cuts like shoulder into large barrels for storage and shipping. Those barrels were called “butts.” Over time, the name stuck, and the cut became known as pork butt.

At City Barbeque, we use this flavorful cut of pork shoulder because its rich marbling breaks down during slow smoking, creating the tender, juicy pulled pork we’re known for.