Notes Payable, Long Term Debt and Other Obligations (Textuals) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Feb. 21, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Vector [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Feb. 12, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Jan. 29, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Mar. 14, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Feb. 13, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Wells Fargo Adjusted Eurodollar Rate [Member] Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity							$ 50,000	$ 50,000
Days of notice required to terminate credit facility							30 days
Basis spread on variable rate								2.00%																1.75%
Minimum Ebitda Ratio On Trailing Twelve Month Basis If Excess Availability Is Less Than 20000 Thousand								100,000
Excess availability in credit facility threshold								20,000
Capital expenditure requirement, maximum carryover amount								2,500
Maximum Capital Expenditures Allowed Before Maximum Carryover Amount of 2500 Thousand								15,000
Debt amount												5,600							415,000		78,685
Long-term debt	645,620		623,724					10,502	29,430	4,105	4,179	4,425				450,000	0			0			414,592
Periodic payment amount										25
Total periodic payments over the term of the loan										885
Outstanding principal after total future periodic payments										3,540
Line of Credit Facility amount outstanding						14,607
Line of Credit Facility remaining borrowing capacity						35,393
Principal amount of debt sold															450,000
Interest Rate				7.75%	11.00%										7.75%					11.00%
Debt redemption price as a percentage of principal amount															107.75%						103.667%	103.667%
Proceeds from debt issuance	450,000	9,870											450,000	0	438,250
Extinguishment of debt																		336,315	336,315	17,820
Debt instrument, premium percentage																		104.292%	104.292%
Debt Instrument, percent of principal															35.00%
Mandatory Redemption Percent In Event Of Change In Control															101.00%
Subsidiary Guarantors, Percentage Ownership															100.00%
Maximum Term to Consummate Registered Exchange Offer															360 days
Covenant, Indenture Threshold for Earnings for Payment of Dividends															75,000
Covenant, Leverage Ratio Requirement															3.0
Covenant, Secured Leverage Ratio Requirement															1.5
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(21,458)	0											(21,458)							(21,458)
Accelerated interest expense on 11% senior secured notes converted	$ 3,638	$ 0																		$ 3,638