Muddle the basil and mint leaves using a mortar and pestle. Alternatively, muddle the herbs in a small bowl using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon.
Combine the honey and half a cup of water in a small pot on the stove until the liquid just barely comes to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the honey. Remove from heat.
Pour the honey simple syrup over the muddled herbs and then allow to steep and cool at room temperature, 30 minutes and up to several hours (the longer it steeps, the more flavor it will impart).
Strain the simple syrup into a pitcher or a quart sized mason jar. Use a mason jar if proceeding with the sparking or cocktail variations (see notes).
Juice 8-10 lemons until you have 1.5 to 2 cups of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Use less for sweeter lemonade, more for a tarter lemonade. We love our electric juicer for this purpose!
Combine the mint and basil simple syrup with the lemon juice and remaining water in a large pitcher, along with 2 cups of ice. Stir.
Pour over ice and serve with a sprig each of mint and basil.
Notes
Variation 1: Sparkling Mint and Basil Lemonade
Mix the lemon juice and honey simple syrup in a quart sized mason jar. This is your sparkling lemonade base.
Pour a third of a cup of the base into a glass over ice.
Top with sparking water, stir, and garnish with mint and basil sprigs.
Variation 2: Vodka Mint and Basil Lemonade
Make a sugar rim around a cocktail glass. Run a wedge of lemon around the rim of the glass, then dip the rim into a plate of sugar.
Fill the glass halfway with ice cubes.
Add 1 ¼ oz vodka. We use Tito's because it's gluten free.
Fill the remainder of the glass with mint and basil lemonade, then garnish with mint and basil sprigs.
Variation 3: Sparkling Vodka Mint and Basil Lemonade
Make a sugar rim around a cocktail glass. Run a wedge of lemon around the rim of the glass, then dip the rim into a plate of sugar.
Fill the glass halfway with ice cubes.
Add 1 ¼ oz vodka.
Add ⅓ cup of sparkling lemonade base.
Top with sparking water, stir, and garnish with mint and basil sprigs.