Chef’s Notes
Mason Bostwick · Executive Chef
Eastern oyster
Murder Point — Murder Point — Strong minerality — buttery and metallic finish. A solid long-line eastern oyster.
Flavor chart
Chef palate read
Shuckability
Shell & line performance
When I buy it
Look for Murder Point Oysters in peak season when conditions are optimal.
How I serve it
On the half shell with minimal garnish — let the oyster speak.
What to watch for
Mild salinity with creamy finish. Reject any with broken shells or milky liquor.
My read
Strong minerality — buttery and metallic finish. A solid long-line eastern oyster.
Murder Point Oysters are a distinctive brand of oysters. They are cultivated with care and precision by the Zirlott family, a name synonymous with quality in aquaculture. You will find them in the nutrient-rich waters just west of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. These oysters are a testament to the family’s commitment to sustainable and innovative farming practices. Utilizing a longline farming method across their 12-acre farm, the Zirlotts have mastered the art of producing oysters. The consistent in size and exceptional in taste are a testament to that. This method allows for a controlled growth environment, ensuring each oyster reaches its peak flavor and size before harvest.
What sets Murder Point Oysters apart is their remarkable flavor profile,. which has garnered acclaim from chefs and oyster connoisseurs alike. These oysters provide a distinctive flavor that mirrors the purity of the waters they come from. The name “Murder Point” evokes intrigue and speaks to the family’s deep-rooted history and connection to the land and sea. As a result, Murder Point Oysters have become a symbol of quality. and innovation in the world of seafood, representing a perfect blend of tradition. and modern aquaculture techniques.
What Are Murder Point Oysters?
Murder Point Oysters are a Gulf-grown Eastern oyster brand from the Zirlott family in Alabama. The oysters ride Australian-style longline baskets in open bay water west of Bayou La Batre. Chefs value them for buttery meat, mild salinity, and a metallic finish on the half shell.
On the half shell the profile opens buttery upfront with a clean metallic linger near 28 ppt salinity. Deep cups show white, gray, and subtle green hues on the shell exterior. Plump creamy meat inside reflects the nutrient-rich Mississippi Sound environment.
Barnacle-free shells reflect careful off-bottom farming across the family’s twelve-acre lease. Harvest targets uniform three-inch singles suited to raw-bar service year-round. The line delivers Gulf warmth with disciplined basket culture uncommon along this coast.
How Did Murder Point Oysters Get Their Name?
The name Murder Point traces to Myrtle Point on the Alabama coast near Bayou La Batre. A 1927 dispute over an oyster lease ended in a fatal shooting at that waterside site. Locals renamed the point Murder Point, and the brand leans on that sharp local folklore.
Today the trade name marks Zirlott family baskets on distributor tags and chef invoices nationwide. Buyers recognize Murder Point as distinct from generic Gulf half-shell lots. The story gives the oyster a memorable identity beyond routine regional labeling.
The company’s slogan, “Oysters worth killing for,” plays on that history with deliberate wit. It signals pride in a five-generation Gulf seafood family that moved from shrimping into oyster farming. The name now frames quality rather than violence on modern menus.
About Murder Point Oyster Company
Murder Point Oyster Company operates from Bayou La Batre, Alabama, as a family-owned farm dedicated to premium half-shell oysters. Five Zirlott generations worked Gulf fisheries before shifting from shrimping into oyster cultivation on leased Mississippi Sound water. Their buttery profile, nicknamed butter love, built a sought-after chef following across the culinary world.
The Murder Point name originates from a historical event in 1927, when a dispute over an oyster lease led to a fatal shooting at Myrtle Point. Locals renamed the site Murder Point, and that folklore still shapes the brand identity today. Their slogan, Oysters worth killing for, adds a wry layer to the company’s Gulf Coast story.
The Zirlott family treats oyster farming as stewardship toward the Mississippi Sound ecosystem. Sustainable longline basket culture supports water quality while producing plump, uniform singles for raw bars. Murder Point Oysters now appear in fine dining rooms and seafood expos, positioning the company among leading American oyster farms.
Discover the exceptional taste of Murder Point Oysters and join the community of oyster enthusiasts. Follow the farm on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for harvest updates, mouth-watering photos, and special offers. The company’s channels share behind-the-scenes looks at basket work west of Bayou La Batre.
Murder Point Oysters Information
Eastern oyster
If you like Murder Point Oysters, then check out these similar varieties!
Name: Murder Point
Species: Crassostrea Virginica
Cultivation Method: Raised using an Australian longline system. This method involves suspending oysters in baskets attached to lines that float in the bay’s open waters. This system allows the oysters to grow in their natural environment while being protected from predators and bottom-dwelling threats.
Culture Method: Floating Basket
Seasonality: Year Round
Size: 2.5-2.75″
Salinity: 23-28 ppt
Appearance: Their deep, well-formed cups and uniform-size feature shells with a blend of white, gray, and subtle green hues. Inside, the oyster meat is plump and creamy, indicative of their nutrient-rich environment and meticulous cultivation. Their clean, barnacle-free appearance underscores the high quality and care taken in their farming process.
Flavor Profile: rich, buttery taste, a signature characteristic that has earned them the nickname “butter love.” This creamy, buttery flavor is balanced with a mild saltiness and a metallic finish.
Location
The farm sits just west of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, on Wintzell Avenue along the Mississippi Sound. Twelve acres of leased water give the Zirlott family room for Australian longline baskets in open bay currents. The address anchors distribution for chefs across the Gulf South and beyond.
Nutrient-rich plumes from the Sound feed dense phytoplankton through much of the year. That food supply builds the plump, creamy meats Murder Point is known for on raw bars. Salinity typically runs 23 to 28 ppt, lending mild brine without harsh salt punch.
Warm Gulf temperatures support year-round growth compared with colder northern farms. Floating basket culture keeps oysters off muddy bottom and away from many predators. The setup yields clean, barnacle-free shells that photograph well for restaurant service.
Suggested Beverage Pairings
Stella Artois crisp lager suits mild sweet buttery Murder Point cups. Clean carbonation refreshes palate between Alabama Gulf half shells.
Freixenet Cava Brut brings zippy bubbles beside Murder Point briny flavor. Spanish sparkling salinity and citrus contrast smooth creamy cup texture.
Alpha Estate Moschofilero offers high acidity and minerality beside Murder Point brine. Greek white enhances sweetness on Alabama Gulf half shells.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label brings marine minerality beside Murder Point creamy cups. Bubbles play beautifully with briny Alabama Gulf salinity.
Hirsch Grüner Veltliner brings wasabi and white pepper notes beside Murder Point mossy cups. Austrian white pairs with savory Alabama Gulf half-shell character.
Where Can I Buy Murder Point Oysters?
- Murder Point Oyster Company website: You can buy Murder Point Oysters directly from the company’s website. They offer both pick-up and shipping options.
References
- Murder Point Oyster Company website:. Web. Accessed 30 May 2026. http://murderpointoysters.com/
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