We have counted down the Top Cigars of 2013 and last week we revealed the first part of our best value cigars. Today we unveil the top five of these great cigars that are all under $7. With so many great cigars to choose from it certainly was not an easy task putting this list together, but I am certain that there is something on this list for everyone seeking a great value as well as a quality smoke.

Starting things off at number five is the EPC Core Maduro Churchill. This medium bodied cigar which consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, and Nicaraguan and Dominican filler is a cigar we just recently picked up from our friend Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.

Chris Gwaltney:  “What else should we expect from the man that created the La Gloria cigar line? This is an absolute gem of a maduro. The wrapper gives it nice cocoa and coffee flavors, while that Ecuadorian Sumatra binder provides a nice blend of spice and nuttiness. If you love maduro then you will love this cigar.”

Steve Mungeer:  “Not knowing much about the EP Carrillo line until this past year, I was pleasantly surprised when I first tried this cigar about 6-7 months ago. This man is a master in cigars and this cigar has rapidly become one of my favorites. This smoke has perfect balance...more mellow than most maduros. Some sweetness and a wide variety of fruity and chocolate flavors show through with just a hint of spice. A near perfect blend that is just so smooth.

Our fourth cigar on the list is the power stick Camacho Corojo Toro. This cigar is a Honduran puro that bills itself as the only cigar that still uses Corojo tobacco. Cuba stopped using Corojo in the 90s due to its inability to fight off disease and mold. In Jamastram, Honduras Corojo seeds taken from Cuba’s famed Vuelta Abajo region were transplanted and have done quite well.

CG:  “This is a cigar for the serious smoker. I like to think of it as a window into the past, an opportunity to try something that is all but extinct today. It’s a powerful cigar with a woodsy flavor and some spice notes. There is a hint of cocoa, but the sweetness in the cigar is barely noticeable.”

SM:  “This is a cigar that is not for the timid! This is full bodied and in your face type of smoke. This is not a breakfast cigar but for the end of the day with a nice glass of bourbon or a rich Port wine. Corojo wrappers are powerful and they make themselves known here. This is a Honduran puro and, while not overly complex, it does give some spice and earth flavors with some serious depth.  For a true lover of cigars, this is an outstanding smoke.”

Our bronze medal finisher is the Nica Rustica from Drew Estate. It has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Mexican San Andres binder, and some really nice Nicaragua filler from the regions of Jalapa and Estelí. This is a medium-bodied smoke and a wonderful example of a cigar caught somewhere between a maduro and oscuro.

CG:  “This draw was easy, the burn even, and both produced lots of smoke. The initial flavors were black pepper spice with some mild cocoa notes. Not a lot of sweetness in the early stages and its power is evident right from the start. I would venture to guess that this is probably a favorite of the factory and farm workers.”

SM:  “One of the latest offerings from Drew Estate and they came up with a real winner...perhaps one of the best cigars of 2013. While its appearance may look a bit “rustic and rough,” once you light this up the richness and flavors will make you say “WOW.”  Nicaraguan filler, San Andres binder and Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper all shine through in this complex and delicious smoke with hints of dark chocolate, some sweetness, earthiness and just a bit of spice. To m,e this is what a good smoke should be.”

Crossing the finish line in second place is another offering from Drew Estate. This time it is the Liga Undercrown Gran Toro that gets the attention. It’s a cigar that is closely related to the Liga Privada 9, substituting a Mexican San Andres Negra wrapper for the more costly and specially aged Connecticut Broadleaf. At half the price of the elusive Liga Privadas, this is certainly a cigar all smokers should have in their humidors.

CG:  “After smoking a few, you may determine that the Undercrown deserves a better title than that of little brother to the Liga series. Coffee, cocoa, and black pepper...those flavors are all there. It’s rolled perfectly and smokes like a dream. A very complex cigar for under $7.”

SM:  “Being a fan of the Mexican San Andres wrapper this is a cigar I just had to include as a top value.  This is the working man’s Liga Privada which I consider one of the best. Bold flavors, lots of thick rich smoke with roasted nuts and coffee nuances with a medium body.”

Our top value cigar of 2013 is a new one that we picked up at the IPCPR trade show this year. The H. Upmann Legacy Robusto is a medium-bodied cigar wrapped with a beautiful Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. The binder is Nicaraguan while the filler is a mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican. It’s a complex cigar with so many flavors going on its hard to keep track.

CG:  "There is nuttiness to the cigar along with some nice muted coffee flavors. By muted I mean coffee with cream, not the heavy espresso flavors you get in a lot of maduros. I also get some nutmeg, cinnamon, and a little dried fruit notes as well. It is amazing that this cigar is priced as it is.”

SM: “This cigar shows how aging tobacco for 5+ years creates just a complex yet smooth smoke. The filler blend with a Sumatran wrapper just marries the flavors perfectly for a creamy medium-bodied smoke with hints of fruits, spice, and a touch of earthiness and a perfect burn.”

This completes our Top Value Cigars for 2013. Please feel free to give these all a test drive. You know it won’t cost you more than $35. It’s hard to find a less expensive way to relax than puffing on these guys for a few hours. Send us a tweet @abccigarchris and @abccigarmuno and let us know how you like them.

Long Ashes,

Chris and Steve