Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 277,563		$ 272,783	$ 276,594	$ 257,606	$ 292,827		$ 288,995	$ 291,180	$ 260,378	$ 1,084,546	[1]	$ 1,133,380	[1]	$ 1,063,289	[1]
Operating income (loss)	37,366		43,193	40,928	33,446	36,023		37,855	37,967	31,476	154,933		143,321		111,313
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses											29,764		19,966		23,963
Identifiable assets	1,086,731					927,768					1,086,731		927,768		949,595
Depreciation and amortization											10,608		10,607		10,790
Capital expenditures											11,265		11,838		23,391
Litigation judgment expense											0		0		16,161
Equity method investments	6,432					16,499					6,432		16,499
Tobacco [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											1,084,546		1,133,380		1,063,289
Operating income (loss)											176,017		164,581	[2]	130,157	[2]
Identifiable assets	426,027					440,564					426,027		440,564		434,842
Depreciation and amortization											9,759		9,118		8,179
Capital expenditures											9,339		10,725		23,073
Litigation judgment expense													16,161
Non-recurring settlement charge													3,000
Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											0		0		0
Operating income (loss)											(2,013)		(1,929)		(631)
Identifiable assets	139,940	[3]				138,096	[3]				139,940	[3]	138,096	[3]	110,532	[3]
Depreciation and amortization											414		326		298
Capital expenditures											406		252		226
Equity method investments	125,651					140,968					125,651		140,968		86,333
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											0		0		0
Operating income (loss)											(19,071)		(19,331)		(18,213)
Identifiable assets	520,764					349,108					520,764		349,108		404,221
Depreciation and amortization											435		1,163		2,313
Capital expenditures											1,520		861		92
Real Estate Investment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses											29,764		19,966		23,963
Real Estate Investment [Member] | Tobacco [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses											0		0		0
Real Estate Investment [Member] | Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses											29,764		19,966		23,963
Real Estate Investment [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses											$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Revenues and cost of goods sold include federal excise taxes of $508,027, $552,965 and $538,328 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[2] Operating income includes litigation judgment expense of $16,161 and a $3,000 settlement charge.

[3] Includes investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting of $125,651, $140,968 and $86,333 as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.