Adding potion particle effects to play post 1.6.2

Good afternoon everyone,
I just have a quick question. In the past I was able to apply potion particle effects using the craftbukkit code:

Code:

  el.getDataWatcher().watch( 8, color );

However, recently there was an update that changed the second argument from int to byte, and ever since then I am unable to trigger player potion particle effects.

I have tried aimlessly manipulating the variables being passed to this data watcher as I have no idea what it is expecting, but from what I can gather the first parameter determines what watcher you are dealing with ( send 9, 100; you’ll jab 100 arrows into your player hah!), but nothing has worked.
The only thing that makes me feel I am somewhat on track still is because when I drink a normal potion, then trigger this function using 8, 55 the particles become transparent.

So my question is does anyone know how to make a player spawn potion particles without adding a potion effect. It used to be call one packet to start them and one to stop them:

Code:

  int c = 0;
  if (!el.effects.isEmpty()) {
   c = net.minecraft.server.v1_6_R2.PotionBrewer.a(el.effects.values());
  }
  el.getDataWatcher().watch(8, c);

Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated; have a great day.