Isle Dauphine
Crassostrea virginica
Hand-crafted Alabama oyster from Dauphin Island with bold brininess and firm texture. Grown in raised cages with strong wave action that creates a deep, meaty cup and consistent quality.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Strong, clean, lingering brine
Expert Notes
Isle Dauphine oysters are hand-crafted by Mobile Oyster Company and showcase the bold brininess of Dauphin Island's coastal waters. Grown in raised cages off the west end of Dauphin Island, these oysters benefit from fresh Gulf water with strong wave action that tumbles them naturally, creating a deep, meaty cup and firm texture. The distinctive salinity from the Gulf ebbing and flowing with each tide gives them their signature bold brine character, making them a benchmark of premium Alabama oysters. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Dauphin Island, Alabama, Mobile Bay
- Size
- Medium (2.5-4 inches)
- Shell Color
- Gray-white
- Meat Color
- Cream to light gray
What Experts Say
Across 6 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: crisp, meaty, balanced salinity
"Isle Dauphine oysters are known as being full and plump with a clean, crisp taste and no grit. We describe them as 'Alabama premium oysters' and we think that is accurate."
cleancrispplump
"These average-sized oysters are firm and very briny. They are grown in raised cages off the west end of Dauphin Island. This very sustainable method ensures that only the mature oysters are harvested and keeps the quality and taste consistent."
firmbriny
"From the rich waters near Dauphin Island, Alabama, Isle Dauphine oysters are renowned for their distinct flavor. Shaped by the Gulf of Mexico's richness and the Mississippi River's influence, these oysters have a beautiful balance of salinity and sweetness!"
saltysweetbalanced
"These oysters are amazing! They have the saltiness that you might expect from an East Coast oyster but all the flavor you want from the productive waters of Mississippi Sound."
saltyflavorful
"Isle Dauphine Oysters have a clean, salty taste with a tender and firm texture."
cleansaltytenderfirm
"Isle Dauphine oysters possess a remarkable balance of salinity and sweetness. They exhibit a plump, meaty texture, making them a favorite among chefs and gourmets. Their shells, often robust and deep-cupped, are a testament to the nutrient-rich waters."
saltysweetbalancedplumpmeaty
About the Farm
Isle Dauphine Oyster Company
Est. 2013Founded by Doug and Mary Ankersen and Lew and Cate Childre near Dauphin Island, Alabama. Doug started with the Double D Oyster Nursery in 2014, the first commercial oyster nursery on Mobile Bay, after taking a class at Auburn University Shellfish Lab.
- Cultivation Method
- rack and bag
History & Background
Isle Dauphine Oyster Company was founded in 2013 in response to Alabama's coastal waters losing over 95% of its historical oyster reefs. The company worked with Auburn University technical experts to adapt off-bottom farming techniques to produce world-class oysters while restoring marine habitats.
Oyster farming once dominated the economy of the Alabama coastal region where Mobile Bay's salt flats and estuaries create a near perfect marine environment. The company has helped revitalize yearlong employment opportunities for waterway economies that are traditionally seasonal.
Did You Know?
- Isle Dauphine oysters are grown in off-bottom cages that visitors can walk to from the beach on Dauphin Island
- The founder Doug Ankersen designed and built a custom pump for the nursery's upweller tanks that bathe baby oysters in constant circulating Bay water
- The company is referred to as producing 'The Cadillac of Oysters'
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 6 sources.
- Proud Merroir — Mobile Baykeeper
- A State-by-State Guide to the South's 35 Best Oysters — Garden & Gun
- Gulf Coast Oysters Grown Locally - Isle Dauphine Oyster Co. — Isle Dauphine Oyster Company
- Isle Dauphine Oyster - Oysterater — Oysterater
- Isle Dauphine Oysters - The Oyster Encyclopedia — Oyster Encyclopedia
- The Doctor is In - Mobile Bay Magazine — Mobile Bay Magazine
Learn More
The Big Five: A Complete Guide to Commercial Oyster Species
Comprehensive guide to C. virginica (Atlantic), C. gigas (Pacific), C. sikamea (Kumamoto), O. lurida (Olympia), and O. edulis (European Flat)
Read article → Biology & SpeciesThe Atlantic Oyster (C. virginica): From Maritime Brine to Gulf Sweetness
Deep dive into America's indigenous East Coast oyster - flavor profiles, regional variations, and famous varieties
Read article → Merroir & EnvironmentWhat is Merroir? The Science of How Environment Shapes Oyster Flavor
Understanding merroir - the marine equivalent of terroir - and how water chemistry creates flavor
Read article →