diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 37a8f29a..7fd79e06 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 ## Recent Version Update
 
-**✨ DABEST “Bingka” v2025.10.20 for Python is now released! ✨**
+**✨ DABEST "Bingka" v2025.10.20 for Python is now released! ✨**
 
 Dear DABEST users,
 The latest version of the DABEST Python library brings new visualizations, refined plots, and improved accuracy.
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ The latest version of the DABEST Python library brings new visualizations, refin
 
     Introducing **Whorlmap**, a new way to visualize effect sizes from multiple comparisons in a compact, grid-based format.
 
-    Whorlmaps condense information from the full bootstrap distributions of many contrast objects into a **2D heatmap-style grid of “whorled” cells**. This provides an overview of the entire dataset while preserving the underlying distributional detail.
+    Whorlmaps condense information from the full bootstrap distributions of many contrast objects into a **2D heatmap-style grid of "whorled" cells**. This provides an overview of the entire dataset while preserving the underlying distributional detail.
 
     They are especially useful for large-scale or multi-condition experiments, serving as a **space-efficient alternative to stacked forest plots**.
 
diff --git a/dabest/misc_tools.py b/dabest/misc_tools.py
index 4060b7ca..8b4c09ab 100644
--- a/dabest/misc_tools.py
+++ b/dabest/misc_tools.py
@@ -546,6 +546,7 @@ def get_color_palette(
 
     # Create color palette that will be shared across subplots.
     color_col = plot_kwargs["color_col"]
+
     if color_col is None:
         color_groups = pd.unique(plot_data[xvar])
         bootstraps_color_by_group = True
@@ -556,12 +557,22 @@ def get_color_palette(
         bootstraps_color_by_group = False
     if show_pairs:
         if plot_kwargs["custom_palette"] is not None:
-            if delta2 or sankey:
+            if delta2:
+                bootstraps_color_by_group = False
+            elif sankey:
                 bootstraps_color_by_group = False
             else:
-                bootstraps_color_by_group = True
+                if color_col is None:
+                    color_groups = pd.unique(plot_data[xvar])
+                    bootstraps_color_by_group = True
+                else:
+                    if color_col not in plot_data.columns:
+                        raise KeyError("``{}`` is not a column in the data.".format(color_col))
+                    color_groups = pd.unique(plot_data[color_col])
+                    bootstraps_color_by_group = False    
         else:
             bootstraps_color_by_group = False
+        
 
     # Handle the color palette.
     filled = True
diff --git a/nbs/API/misc_tools.ipynb b/nbs/API/misc_tools.ipynb
index 3e28644e..c8e97c67 100644
--- a/nbs/API/misc_tools.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/API/misc_tools.ipynb
@@ -597,6 +597,7 @@
     "\n",
     "    # Create color palette that will be shared across subplots.\n",
     "    color_col = plot_kwargs[\"color_col\"]\n",
+    "\n",
     "    if color_col is None:\n",
     "        color_groups = pd.unique(plot_data[xvar])\n",
     "        bootstraps_color_by_group = True\n",
@@ -607,12 +608,22 @@
     "        bootstraps_color_by_group = False\n",
     "    if show_pairs:\n",
     "        if plot_kwargs[\"custom_palette\"] is not None:\n",
-    "            if delta2 or sankey:\n",
+    "            if delta2:\n",
+    "                bootstraps_color_by_group = False\n",
+    "            elif sankey:\n",
     "                bootstraps_color_by_group = False\n",
     "            else:\n",
-    "                bootstraps_color_by_group = True\n",
+    "                if color_col is None:\n",
+    "                    color_groups = pd.unique(plot_data[xvar])\n",
+    "                    bootstraps_color_by_group = True\n",
+    "                else:\n",
+    "                    if color_col not in plot_data.columns:\n",
+    "                        raise KeyError(\"``{}`` is not a column in the data.\".format(color_col))\n",
+    "                    color_groups = pd.unique(plot_data[color_col])\n",
+    "                    bootstraps_color_by_group = False    \n",
     "        else:\n",
     "            bootstraps_color_by_group = False\n",
+    "        \n",
     "\n",
     "    # Handle the color palette.\n",
     "    filled = True\n",
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 533ba62c..289d1cf1 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ dev = ['pytest~=8.3.4', 'pytest-mpl~=0.17.0']
 version = {attr = "dabest.__version__"}
 
 [tool.setuptools.packages.find]
-include = ["dabest"]
+include = ["dabest", "dabest.*"]
 
 [tool.nbdev]
 branch = 'master'