Check out Thorn's Rohloff range.
I rarely ride anything but my Raven Tour now. It's as close to a "do everything bike" as I can think of.
I've done around 6000 miles on it. I've carried luggage on cycle tours, it's done a 300km Audax (as well as several 100s and 200s) and will hopefully be doing a 400km and 600km this year. It's not a fast bike compared to a carbon road bike but it will be quicker than a typical MTB and they also do a Raven Sport Tour if you want something more lively.
I'm definitely not the slowest on the Audax rides and, if I was, it wouldn't be the bike's fault.
Most of all it's comfy, very comfy. It has a very relaxed geometry (check out where the pump fits) and it super stable. I use drops but my friends has same bike with flat bars and also rides Audax on it.
It's not maintenance-free but unless you get a single-speed it's hard to beat. Add about 20ml of oil to the hub every year and tension the chain every few months.
Best of all though, you get 3 months to try it and send it back if you don't like it. That's really tough to beat when you are spending over a grand and personally I think it's crazy not to at least try it for 100 days.
Best thing I have ever bought, I really love it even though it looks a bit of a bruiser when parked next to its carbon equivalents.
A lot of people seem anti-Rohloff or anti-Thorn but I've yet to meet an owner who is either.