I'm coming to this thread a little late, but the wide variety of responses here confirm for me that a cigar's worth is entirely a matter of personal opinion.
If trends count for anything, I've noticed that the majority of NC ultra premiums enthusiasts buy/sell/trade among each other seem to be Fuentes or Tatuajes. I love all the higher end Fuentes and I'm willing to pay the $$ that these go for. On the other hand, I am often disappointed by the price and flavor of most Tats.
The thing is, you will find an equal number of people who agree and disagree with me, so I would encourage everyone to smoke a variety of premium cigars and decide what you personally feel is worth the price.
as a side note, I have to agree with everybody who says that there aren't any premium NCs worth the price when compared to their Cuban counterparts, but is that really a fair comparison?
cheers!
