Get a road bike. Drop handle bars are useful as you have plenty of options to move your hands around and change body position.
But, Gaz, tourers have drop handlebars, too!
I've been using a tourer for almost 4 years now, in all conditions, commuting or recreational rides, and am so happy with it that I've almost done 50,000km on it. Many times, while cycling up mountains, I've wondered what it might be like to ride up it on a lightweight road bike, but the urge hasn't yet hit me strong enough to make me go out and buy one.
To the OP: I have a Vivente World Randonneur tourer, and highly recommend it as a good all-rounder bike. Not the lightest, but the extra 5 or so kg isn't all-important. What's important is how fit you are. I've seen many people on road bikes who weigh at least 5kg more than me, so the road bike advantage is (partly) negated, there, plus I have a better range of climbing gears than on most road bikes. Just my 2c (or 2p) worth