Inventories (Narrartive) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventory [Line Items]
LIFO adjustments	$ 21,538	$ 23,004
Capitalized MSA cost in finished goods inventory	16,001	17,440
Inventories
Inventory [Line Items]
Federal excise tax in inventory	26,419	25,151
Cost of Goods Sold
Inventory [Line Items]
Effect of liquidations of LIFO inventory	567	1,333
Liggett \| Inventories
Inventory [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	19,034
Leaf tobacco
Inventory [Line Items]
LIFO adjustments	14,932	16,442
Other raw materials
Inventory [Line Items]
LIFO adjustments	219	123
Work-in-process
Inventory [Line Items]
LIFO adjustments	25	18
Finished goods
Inventory [Line Items]
LIFO adjustments	$ 6,362	$ 6,421

The effect of liquidating LIFO (last in first out) inventory layers on income.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 330
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
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Amount by which inventory stated at last-in first-out (LIFO) is less than (in excess of) inventory stated at other inventory cost methods.

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Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
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-SubTopic 10
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Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Topic 210
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Inventory, Finished Goods, Capitalized Costs

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