Pour 1 cup water and sugar in pot and cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
Add the cut strawberries (save the rest) and cook until they soften, about 12-15 minutes.
Meanwhile, add the other 8 cups to a large pitcher and add lemonade mixture. Because the strawberry syrup will be sweet, only fill the lemonade measuring cap to the 1 quart line.
Chill the softened strawberries until cool, to speed it up place in freezer.
Slowly pour the strawberry syrup into the lemonade mixture.
Pour desired amount into a glass, add vodka or gin and 1 fresh basil leaf per glass.
Recipe by Meg's Meal Planning at http://megsmealplanning.com/2017/08/16/strawberry-basil-vodka-lemonade/